Holy smokes! – between the flurry of free resources, news, memes, and the kids screaming at me for this or that – I feel like my head is spinning. I literally can’t take it all in.
First of all, the free virtual resources and opportunities sound amazing and I want to do them all! There’s online barre classes, free subscriptions, virtual daily mass, children’s programs, educational tools and so much more that I probably don’t even know about. Quickly, I get overwhelmed and don’t know where to start. I shut down.
Then there is the news which is so depressing. As a pick-me-up I look for the funny memes. They provide the comic relief we need. I only laugh to keep from crying. Here are some of my favorite:
It feels good to laugh. I feel like I benefit from laughing even more now because of the constant edge I’m on.
Speaking of on-edge, I’ve been pushed to the limits of my patience since sheltering at home. Oh how I appreciate daycare so much more now. God bless those teachers! I think the childlike imagination inside of me has died. Playing isn’t something I do well anymore – which is sad – I will admit. Maybe depression has a part in my struggle.
The depression has been overwhelming lately. Some days I’m in survival mode hour by hour. Being “on” for my kids is not physically mentally possible right now. You know it’s bad when your five-year old has to come check on you from time to time. Something they shouldn’t have to worry about.
Let’s keep things simple
So what am I doing about this covid-overwhelm? Facebook and Instagram are already off-limits. I signed out, locked them up and threw away the key! The anxiety and toxicity that was brewing inside me while I binged on FB and IG were not making me a better person.
Prayer time in the evenings before bed is critical even if my heart is not always 100% in it. The important thing is that I keep showing up and remain faithful through the good and the bad. How much more love there is when you continue to put forth the effort despite feeling far from God, despite everything the rest of the world says against God, despite not going to mass, despite everything.
There are many things I could be doing to improve the situation. No matter what I do, it is not enough. There are too many factors out of my control. I can only control myself and my story.
Keep the faith
There is an invisible threat out there and people who are not taking it seriously. It reminds of me of what Jesus said to Thomas:
Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”
John 20:29
We can’t see the virus just like we can’t see God. But we can see the symptoms of the virus. God is working through doctors and nurses in a real and tangible way. Do you believe the virus is real and dangerous? Do you believe God is real and loves us?
