The news of the day is… we are open. How wonderful it was to see people in church Sunday morning. Everyone did the social distancing protocol, there was no hugging or handshaking, and mothers picked up their own roses as they went out the door. It was not what we are used to doing, but at least there were real people. Church sounds so much better in person than it does on the video. We were also treated to a come and go fish dinner, courtesy of the Mondo Garcia family. Paula helped serve food with her arm in her new pink cast.
Our kids are winding down the school year, and teachers are closing out classrooms a little earlier than usual. But we have managed to get through this mess. The good news is that there will be a graduation of sorts. Mrs. Ashworth will be sending out details as soon as they are all set in stone. The community will be able to share in the celebrations as well. The plans are to have a parade route lined with people waving and congratulating the kids as they drive past. I believe I saw someone putting up the banners for our graduates similar to the ones they have lining Main Street in San Saba. Those are really nice, and I can’t wait to see ours displayed around town.
In 1527, Pastor Hess used a quotation from Martin Luther regarding the Bubonic Plague. He wondered if it was the correct thing to flee from a deadly plague. The answer from Luther reads, “I shall ask God mercifully to protect us. Then I shall fumigate, help purify the air, administer medicine and take it. I shall avoid places and persons where my presence is not needed in order not to become contaminated and thus perchance inflict and pollute others and so cause their death as a result of my negligence. If God should wish to take me, he will surely find me, and I have done what he has expected of me. And so I am not responsible for either my own death or the death of others. If my neighbor needs me however, I shall not avoid place or person but will go freely as stated above. See, this is such a God-fearing faith because it is neither brash nor foolhardy and does not tempt God.”
That has been my belief throughout this crisis. As Christians, we are called to help others, we should be thoughtful and cautious, but not fearful. If we indeed get called home, it will be because it was our time and not because we disregarded others carelessly. We cannot live in fear. Our country must regain its freedom and stability. May God give us, and our leaders, wisdom in the reopening of our country.
I have planned a trip home to Canada this summer, but it might not happen. My family lives in Ontario, and they have had more cases than some of our other provinces. I hope I get to see my children soon. I have one that lives on the Ransom property with me, but the rest are all still in quarantine. San Antonio is opening very cautiously. I hope they will allow us to visit our families in nursing homes soon. Russell’s eldest sister is in Corpus Christi, and we have not seen her for almost a year. I hope this crisis has taught us to make the time to visit family members that are not close to us.
That is why I make the trip to Canada once a year, no matter what. It is not always convenient to stop what I am doing for two weeks. As we get older, there will come a time when it won’t matter if we have the time. We might not have that special someone to visit. So please, find time to spend with your loved ones.
So, pray for our country, our leaders and our medical professionals working on this virus. Call it what you want, it is a killer and could have been stopped sooner had we been forewarned. Pray for all the families that are grieving for their loved ones. Pray for the parents who have had to home school their kids. Pray for our students and those around the country that have missed months of school. Next year will be a difficult year for all concerned. Most of all pray for our precious troops and their families.