Instead of whiling away hours with mindless television programs or social media, I wanted to accomplish something during the pandemic. Early, I began documenting, in photographs, what I do each day and what I learn about life and myself. I enjoy the nature around me. Looking at my photographs, I see the mountains through the still leafless trees. There is a photo of a flowerpot beside my garage that is overflowing with blooming pansies. And the chrysanthemums flourish without any attention from me.
I am doing things that have been on my “to do” list for a long time: cleaning off my desk, cleaning, and reorganizing my refrigerator. I am also slowing down–sitting by the fire, admiring the view, listening to the birds, reading a book. Would I have taken this much time for myself otherwise?
One of the most important lessons I am learning is patience. As much as I would like to have my life back to normal, I have learned that I must be patient. God answers prayers in God’s way and in God’s time. What lesson have you learned during the pandemic?
This message is an excerpt from a Women of the ELCA blog by Susan P. Harris. Today we remember Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux, who died in 1153.
Daily Grace has been offering you things to ponder and things to pray about for more than 10 years. For free. Women of the ELCA provides many other free online resources, too—see welca.org/resources. Please support Women of the ELCA at welca.org/give.