2020 has been quite a year. I think one of my favorite memes has been a picture of David Bowie as the Goblin King. The caption read, “At this point, if the Goblin King invited me into the Labyrinth, I’d just go…” I think we all would. So far this year, Australia started burning, the world was hit with a Pandemic, the United States has had ongoing social justice protests and riots, and currently, the West Coast is on fire. Oh…and somewhere in there, were some murder hornets. I’m pretty sure that they took a look around, and thought…ehhhh…I think we’ll just sit this one out!

I finished up my teach-out position in June and had the month of July off. It was lovely, although not a great long-term plan. While Eric has retirement, I have a 401K that is not ready to be touched yet. We were given the go ahead to return to our business in August and have been working Monday-Saturday every since, trying to catch up. We are grateful for the work, since so many are without right now. I am feeling all of my almost 57 years but also know that we will slow down in the coming months, so we will plow through until then.

We had been taking our Grandson out twice a week until we went back to work. We took him to the beach yesterday after not having him for a full week. We will hopefully get back on schedule soon, since our time with Zander is part of the quality-of-life that we’ve worked so hard to achieve. He keeps me centered and remembering that we have always wanted to be hands-on grandparents, just as my mother’s parents were for me. My grandfather walked me to Kindergarten every day when I was four. Our relationship continued to be a staple in my life until they both passed in my early twenties. They always represented a voice of calm in the chaos.

I think everyone can use a voice of calm, nowadays, not just the children. How do we find that, or better yet, how to we become that for other people? How do we find peace in the pandemic, faith in the fires, and hope in the hopeless situations in life? How do we become that voice that we so desperately needed when our own lives felt out of control?

Maybe by just starting with looking around. It’s so easy in the midst of chaos to only look at ourselves. We meet our own needs and feel grateful for the ability to do so. Sometimes, however, there are people around us that can’t…and don’t know how to ask for help. So for today, that is my goal. Meet a need for one person that may not even know that it’s me doing it…not for an Instagram picture, but for the pure joy of helping someone.

Matthew 6:2-4 2“So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Our lives need purpose and I truly believe, that in purpose, we find peace. We find calm in the chaos. In 2020, chaos abounds. I think we can all use a little peace.

Now on to the detective work of finding my one for today. Tomorrow will bring new opportunities, but I won’t worry about that now. Today is all that I need to think about.

Who can you help today?

Posted by:Sheri Saretsky

I spent ten years as a single parent of three boys. I then married my wonderful husband and he was inducted into the world of boy raising. Now we get to add my peri-menopause to the mix! Its been a crazy life...one I wouldn't change a minute of....

3 replies on “Peace in a Pandemic”

  1. This is beautiful Sheri. A beautiful reminder. A beautiful goal to strive towards (many goals actually). Also, I think the less touting we do of our good deeds the more important an impact they have.

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