In These Difficult Times - March 19

March 19, 2020

Beloved,

A thought for today:

On this first day of spring, the purple crocuses in front of our house remind me of the surprise of our Ashland home, where tiny purple, yellow and white buds arose early one spring morning, scattered across the back yard. Little did the one who planted those bulbs know of the lasting gift of whimsy that image would bring to me today. 

Doug Larson tells us that “Spring is when you feel like whistling, even with a shoe full of slush.” Your day will likely be stressful, as you navigate this home school experiment with your children, pack grocery bags for hungry neighbors, or strategize with community leaders as to how to support the marginalized in these fearful days. Yet I pray you will catch a glimpse of the playful crocuses, and pause to whistle a tune of hope. 

Resources(in the spirit of whimsy)

Authors reading their children’s books.

https://coolprogeny.com/2020/03/operation-storytime/?fbclid=IwAR0AhzNeV9JrCasqqmHFiAG8Hf8NlKBQKVIp8yQxjUIy4GeM3RNTQ_OeQgY

Hear some children’s stories in French

https://www.thefrenchexperiment.com/stories?fbclid=IwAR2Q7Xmg_5JcIHKuTyrwjgPhC_gOGSzhWxKsWU0gqjq-hWtjEnzLZNsGP1s

And for those who don’t have time to watch these during November and December, 

Hallmark released the full schedule of some of their famous Christmas movies that will be airing on this weekend. There’s a total of 27 movies airing!

Words of hope:

Stuck at home for a couple weeks? 😷
Need some encouragement to get you through the day? 🌻
Call our toll free number, 1-844-830-1865, to hear a “one minute message of hope” from The Salvation Army of Memphis & the Mid-South! 

A reminder:

Rev. Sharon Seyfarth Garner asks,

What if … instead of being remembered as a time of social distancing, this crisis were remembered as a time of social honoring; a time when we honored our shared humanity?  What if we acknowledged our common need for food, shelter, health care, kindness and love? 

A benedictionfrom 2 Peter 1:2

May grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.