This is a weird time in our world’s history. People are social distancing,wearing gloves and masks to do their shopping and hunkering down for who knows how long. For some this is hard. For those who love being home….not so hard.
I am finding that amid all the “new normal” there are so many reasons to be grateful. There are so many pictures of grace. I am also finding that sometimes those pictures of grace don’t look quite what we are used to!
Today, after helping a brother in law who is home-bound, we stopped by our mailbox to pick up the mail. Stuffed in the mailbox was a bag that said the sender was “The Chicken Coop”. I was stumped as to who sent it and what it was. Before I had ever made it to the house I was guessing. (It felt a bit like Christmas!)
The artwork on the back side of the package had me grinning before I even opened it. When I opened it and discovered the t-shirt, pictured above, my grin became even wider.
I was still mystified by who could have sent it; till I opened the card included in the package.
What I read amazed me. It was from a gal that I know (Glenda V.) who said she reads my Facebook posts and is blessed by them and the photos. What she doesn’t know, is how much she had just blessed me. I have the shirt hanging in my living room at this time and it does my heart good!
Yes, pictures of grace don’t always look like you think they would. Sometimes they look like a t-shirt with a chicken on them and truth written across it. Sometimes they look like my friend (Merilyce) who stopped by with an Easter bag “just because”. (She was also an answer to prayer as my sewing machine was not cooperating and she is a sewing wizard.)
Yes….I am social distancing. But I am continuing to live life…just living it more carefully. I think the card that came with my shirt says it all….. “Be messy+complicated+afraid and then show up anyways.”
Let’s not just survive this time of uncertainty. Let’s live it to the full. Let’s live it fully…just differently than what we are used to. Let’s call people to make sure they are doing okay and to ease the loneliness of staying home. We can be apart and safe and yet stay close and grow those relationships.
Let’s send a card. (this card came from Rosie’s Boutique which is an amazing testimony on it’s own!) Let’s help when it’s messy+complicated+afraid…..let’s show up anyway….even if showing up is a phone call, text or message or snail mail. Let’s meet people where they are….even if where they are is messy and complicated.
May the weekend find you being blessed by those around you and may it also find you blessing someone else by showing grace…..however that grace might look.
Getting a glimpse of your new normal was fun. Our habits haven’t had to change much.
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Our habits have not changed much either except helping with my brother in law. He cannot drive yet so is dependent on others to get him to appts and stock him with groceries.
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Love this post, thank you for posting. We are self-isolating, also, but in a Western Australian city apartment. A different way of life from yours, but with many similarities. Already we live more simply, worry less, try to be as kind as possible to each other and to strangers. God bless you and yours. Stay safe.
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There has been a great upside to all of this….people worry about others now and do what they can to help. Glad to hear you are doing okay!
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Hi Faye – this is Peggy from a quietandpeaceablelife. My blog got corrupted and I had to delete it. I have had numerous problems trying to work with wordpress and establish another blog. Which is peggyscountrylife.wordpress.com. My whole system has been glitching lately and I have tried switching computers – and yet have many problems still. Love this post and love the t-shirt you received. People are extending kindness to others all over the world since this virus has taken over our lives. Stay safe and well.
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I am going to head over to your new blog! I wondered where you had gone. I am so glad to hear you are doing okay. You stay safe too!
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Thanks for your always positive outlook on things. This is a difficult time for many. I think we all are inwardly afraid because there appears to be no solution, but one thing being reinforced for me daily is that even though our world is changing, our God is still the same. Stay safe and healthy.
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You are so right! God does not change and I think that is why I am not anxious about it. I do worry about my kids in the city but they are doing everything they can to stay safe and that is all you can do. God has it and that is good enough for me.
You and yours stay safe as well!
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Don’t you find it odd to think about what simple things would make the new normal seem more… well, normal? For us, today, eggs and toilet paper at the grocery store would signal the possibility of normal!
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The whole toilet paper thing has me stumped! I could understand if this virus caused digestive stuff like diarrhea but it doesn’t. Eggs are not an issue here thanks to the girls. The issue for us on that is getting them to those who need them!
There will be some great stories to tell when this is all over and we do have a front row seat to history I am thinking. The rest….we will just take a day at a time I guess. You guys stay safe!….well as safe as you can.
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I always enjoy your uplifting words and Anne Lamott has always been a favorite of mine.
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Thank you so much George. How are you guys doing in your part of the country?
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It’s a little crazy here, we’re in New Jersey so our proximity to New York is not something that works in our favor. We go for walks but it’s been real quiet the last week and people move far away when we approach. I understand. We’ve pretty much stayed in the last couple of weeks except for walks and rides. We stay occupied but the toughest thing is not being able to see our children or grandkids. Because of where we are, this is going to get worse before it gets better. How about you? How is everything there?
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We are doing good. But it IS hard not seeing kids and grandkids. Ours are 4 hours away and we miss them.
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>Let’s live it fully…just differently than what we are used to.
That goes so well with the quote you shared. May we always be willing to jump into life, even if it’s complicated and we are a bit afraid.
Great message.
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Thank you so much!! So glad you stopped by.
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so good to see this! I have missed you-that quote was just beautiful. I hope you and your family is all well. Stay safe and take extra care! love Michele
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So far we are all good!. I am glad we live in the country at this time. I can still roam around outside and start getting my garden ready. Well….I was prepping my garden till tonight. We have rain that is turning to ice and they have used the snow word! At least it will not last long.
How are you and your loved ones doing?
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hey there-we too are all well, thankfully and I am so thankful too, to live in the country just now. SNOW?? wow! Here it is spring. Take care and God bless. love Michele
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You always have a positive and uplifting slant on things, Faye. You balance out the n’er-do-wells like me who make light of things but are insecure on the inside. Ever thought of becoming a preacher? I’m thinking a whole new blog “The Chicken Preacher.”
Excellent post.
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Thank you so much Al. I have a lot of insecurities…the kind that probably don’t matter at all in the grand scheme of things. A bad haircut makes me insecure…and that is the truth! I AM secure in where I will go if this virus gets me…I just want to make sure all the people I know and love will be there down the road with me :). Hmmmm……maybe that statement does make me a Chicken Preacher LOL.
I do have to tell you….I love reading your blog because you always, yes always, brighten my day. I think most of us are insecure on the inside…it is what we do with those insecurities that make a difference….and you do make a difference Al!
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Thank you, Faye. You return it to me tenfold!
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T-shirt is wonderful. Who else can I trust? No one like you can trust God. A fun and inspiring blog. We all have a lot to learn and it appears that God knew it! So we are learning some things while trusting him.
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You are so right Oneta. We will keep on trusting and learn to trust even more.
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I love that t-shirt! I think we are on a similar path Faye. Being in the country is a blessing but having kids in the city is difficult and worrisome. A couple weeks ago I read a post saying that social distancing is the wrong term. It should be physical distancing and that is correct. I know that I have probably become more social than usual just by calling and checking on people. Have a great week my friend. 🙂
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You have a great week also Ruth!
I told my web guru daughter in law that I need to learn how to zoom. Maybe that way I can talk to my entire family at once.
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Reblogged this on The Chicken Grandma and commented:
Test Test TEst
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so perfectly beautiful 🙂
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