This past Sunday, we celebrated my daughter's birthday. I still can't believe that she is 7! Didn't we just bring her home from the hospital? This year, though, her birthday celebration was very different due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In prior years, we've always had a huge party with family, friends and yes, all her classmates. We'd set up our pool, rent a Bounce House, cater Mexican food (her favorite), open presents, and just enjoy one another's company. But this year there was no big party it was just the 4 of us enjoying and celebrating a little girl's 7th birthday.
Overall the day was great, but there were moments that I missed that big party, especially our friends, our extended family, and those sweet giggles and sequels from the kids!
Since the start of the pandemic, there have been times where I've been angry and sad that not only myself, but so many others have had to miss out on parties, weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and so much more. I've spent hours reminiscing on the days before COVID and wishing we could just go back to that time. I've struggled to embrace this new normal that all of us are now facing and have prayed that we could just 'reset' the clock and start 2020 over again without COVID. But God doesn't speed up or slow down time. Instead, God asks us to be present to the moment – the day, the hour, the minute.
As I look back at the past four months, while there were challenges, there were many beautiful moments with my family. From forts with blankets to Lego towers to Birthday car parades and my favorite, daily morning prayer with my family. So much of God's goodness and grace have been weaved into the past 125 days.
Now instead of reflecting on the past, I am trying to find God's grace in each moment and the good in every day. I'm wishing for the days of the past less often and consciously looking for beauty in each new day!
This pandemic has impacted each one of us and we, at A Nun's Life, want you to know that you are in our prayers. If you have a specific prayer request let us know by sharing it in the comments below.
Look for the beauty in each day, be present to the moment, and stay safe and healthy!
