DEEP BREATHS . . . That’s what I was thinking on the morning of Thursday, March 12. It feels like a lifetime ago. I was sitting in my car in the pouring rain with a dead battery, a cranky 3-year-old, a wet, smelly dog AND the reverberation of the breaking news of stay-at-home orders ringing my head. With panic, fear and anxiety beginning to swell in me, I could only do two things — take a deep breath and cry out to God. Psalm 46:1 reminds us that, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Needless to say, the rain stopped, my car got a needed jump and I pressed on into this ‘new normal.’

It’s been ten weeks since that moment in the car and I continue to find myself taking deep breaths and crying out to God. He meets me in my brokenness when my patience is razor-thin when distance learning and daily Zoom calls are a struggle for my 5-year-old. He rejoices with me when I see my two young boys greet every neighbor that passes by our house with sweet smiles and friendly conversations. He gives me even more grace when it’s 8:05am and my children are asking for their millionth snack of the day.

Amidst the many ups and downs of ‘hunkering down at home,’ God has drawn me into a deeper relationship with Him. Being able to press pause on school, sports and social gatherings has been tough for this extrovert mom but it has given me the opportunity to pray and reflect on God’s goodness, grace and love.

As we look towards the easing of stay-at-home restrictions, I will continue to “rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) and continue to take DEEP BREATHS.

Kristen Jones