I'm incredibly close to my mom and talk to her multiple times throughout the day.   Even before all of this craziness happened I always call her on my way into and home from work.  I called her this morning to have our daily chat and she shared with me a beautiful story that I wanted to share with you all.

My mother loves to walk. In the woods, by the lake, in circles in the living room you think of it she's probably walked it.  So naturally, you can imagine that this stay at home order is making her pretty ancy--like it is all of us.  The other day was too nice to just sit around the house and she found herself walking down the road in the subdivision where my parents live.  She was pleasantly surprised to see so many people in their yards or walking as well.  While on a nice day this wouldn't be abnormal, what caught my mom's attention was that everywhere she turned people were being kind to each other.  Of course, they were maintaining the 6 feet policy and practicing social distancing but every single person my mom came across that day had a smile on their face and gave her a wave.  Usually, we've both found that people don't speak or smile at each other anymore.  They are just in their own little worlds and keep to themselves.  She's noticed during the few times that she's ventured out since the Stay Home Order that people are keeping their distance but are now waving, smiling and talking to each other.  There is more kindness and noticing of others around us.

Psalm 31:21 states "Blessed be the LORD for he has wondorsuly shown his steadfast love to me when I was beset as a city under siege."  I like to think that in times of crisis, people's kindness comes bursting out of them.  We've been experiencing so much fear and negativity on top of being cooped up in our homes, it gives my heart hope to hear that people are showing God's love for others in the little ways that they can.

Cheerfully in Christ,

Annie Slabaugh