Things we never thought possible are happening. Our family is sequestered. Our days are long and seem to ebb and flow with emotion and dread and planning and the keeping up of chins. We had all talked about this situation hypothetically, hadn’t we? All the way from those with shelters lined with food (ahem, were they right?) to those who talk of zombies. The truth is that the awareness that this is our new reality and no one has an answer hits me square in the face about one hundred twenty-seven times a day. This is when you want the adultier adult to tell you it’s all gonna be okay. And to also tell you how to make the food and money stretch.

We are on day 5 of full-on-sequester. There are six of us in one home currently who haven’t gone anywhere to speak of other than on a walk. The remaining four in our village are in another house for the time being and I miss them more than I can say. We wonder if there are others who are really trying to do the same. I do think it only works if we all are making it a point to stay home. Yesterday, I talked virtually to a cousin of mine who is also isolated from her kids and grandkids, and it made me wonder if there are others out there who get it. Who are sacrificing now for the greater good.

Raise your hand if that’s you. If you’ve hunkered down and you’re making it work and it stinks.

Raise your hand if you are feeling alone or scared or incapable.

My daughter and I are working, both, to memorize a chapter of a Psalm together. It’s Psalm 46. Here’s what I have so far…

God, you are our Refuge and Strength, and ever-present help in times of trouble. Therefore I will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea…

Psalm 46

(There’s more so feel free to look it up). Made me feel better, and somehow, implanting into my brain by attempting to memorize also feels like a good move. Psalm 91 is also on my list. And when I need some reassurance that He sees and loves me, I go back to the first Psalm I memorized, Psalm 139 — fixes my heart every time.

Raise your hand if you have a Scripture that helps. Would you share it?

We all have been doing a few more things that soothe our souls. I hear music played on various instruments. I see fiber arts being applied. I, myself, keep being drawn to the ivories to pour out my heart through my fingers. This song keeps getting me…

This was my sweet Grandma’s favorite song. She used to ask me to go down to the piano in the basement where the hymnal and piano were and she’d sing her sweet heart out as I fumbled through the chords for her. Now, I soak up the memory and the words like a thirsty sponge.

Raise your hand if you are making some decisions to reach out a bit more to those you love and enjoy the simpler things that life is usually too busy to accommodate. I know I am. And I still want to do better.

If you’ve raised your hand at all, would you share any of the ways you’re dealing well or not so well? I think that if we feel like we’re in this together, it may just combat the dark.