Notes from Jackson Street: After 2020, everyone needs love, grace, kindness

Corby Carlin Winters

By CORBY CARLIN WINTERS, Marketing / Public Relations

Since last March we have been living a life that seems almost unrecognizable to us.  We have been divided and filled with anger, from political issues to COVID-19. We have grieved the loss of family and friends, and others we cannot touch.

This past year has been anything but normal. Many say there is no such thing as “normal,” but I believe it to mean things remain somewhat constant. We expect certain things to happen. The sun and moon will set and rise. Gravity keeps us down. The expected is expected.

But this year has been a rollercoaster of bringing the unexpected and the unknown to people of all ages. We are wearing masks and keeping our distance. Our children are often not in a classroom, but on a Zoom call.

For more than a year we have heard and read tragic stories about the ravaging impact of COVID-19. I pray you have been spared, but I know John Winters and I have not.  We have lost friends to this horrid disease, both young and old.

Death is hard. Its impact is far-reaching, damaging friends and families without regard to economic or social status. Even counselors will tell you death is probably the greatest “stressor” for those who live on.

We were built for relationships.  We are relational beings and being away from family and friends during this pandemic goes against our very being.  And at the same time, most of us are trying to rebuild lives uprooted by death, unemployment, reduced work hours, hunger and yes, a pandemic.

Right now everyone needs love, grace, kindness and especially patience.

When I hear people say children are resilient, it makes me absolutely crazy.  Children are just like us, they get depressed, they get lonely, they question their decisions and being pent up in their house isn’t healthy for them or us.

We cannot control all things that happen to us and come our way, but we can control some things. We can control our thoughts, our choices. We can work to get “unstuck” and continue to focus on our purpose and passions.

We must fight to build our lives back to as much as “normal” as we can. For some of us, that means changing our path. Changing our focus from what we can’t control to what we can. Anyone can catch the virus. But we can lessen the odds by wearing a mask, practicing social distancing and washing our hands.

Through all of this pandemic, never forget your dreams, visions, goals, purpose and calling. Begin to set some specific, measurable, attainable and trackable goals to get started building the life and becoming the person you want to be.

I want to invite you to fight for the life you want.  Don’t give up and don’t give in. Especially now. Focus on what you can control. Take a step, even a small step, toward those goals. It is your choice, pandemic or not.

And take this to heart, 6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4: 6-7).