I can no longer keep silent in what I’m seeing going on around me. 

I see friends and family criticizing each other for the choices they’re making in the midst of this pandemic. I see a lack of compassion. I see nastiness. I see fear. 

Through an aching heart, a compassionate soul, and vision clouded with tears, I’m going to share how I view this year…

2020 is not a lost year but rather a year of investment.

photo credit: © depositphotos.com / halfpoint

I’ve heard so many people share what they’ve lost this year… a trip, a job, the convenience of dining out, the classrooms, graduations, weddings, parties, and gatherings with friends. 

I don’t dismiss the pain of not being able to do these things. My family, too, has lost much.

My husband lost his job for one and a half months. We’ve lost savings. A major family vacation that we had been planning for months was cancelled. Special occasions where extended family gather to share a meal and play games were eliminated. 

I, too, know the pain of losing a lot. 

But I truly believe that we can reframe this situation and view it as an investment in the future. 

My family has heeded all of the health protocols:

• we have limited our outings
• we distance visit with friends and family members
• we stick to our social “bubble”
• we keep a 2-meter physical distance from others
• we wear masks when we are indoors with people who are not in our bubble
• we’re meticulous with handwashing / sterilizing items from outside the house

Of course we miss hugs from extended family members, gathering to worship at church, heck, I even miss the casual, dawdling grocery trips . But for my family, it’s a low risk investment. 

We are taking minimal risks, BUT we’re in it for the long term gain. We don’t do this out of fear or simply for the health of our immediate family. We are making these choices for everyone in our community, our city, our province, our country, and our world. 

This is not a time to think, “I NEED this trip, or I DON’T LIKE to wear a mask.” This is the time to think about how every single action can impact others. 

Years ago I  lost my maternal and paternal grandmothers. I can’t possibly express how much I loved these women. If my actions keep someone else’s beloved mother, grandmother, father, or grandfather alive, then I have invested well. 

I couldn’t bear to think that a poor choice I’ve made could harm someone else. The second commandment is to “love your neighbour as yourself” – I’m loving my neighbour by taking these actions. 

Don’t call me a sheep because I wear a mask and don’t criticize my family for sticking to the health protocols. 

We are investing in the future. We are investing in you and your loved ones. An investment now could prevent the greatest loss of all… the loss of precious human life.

With this investment also comes unexpected benefits and gains…

Over the past five months, I’ve invested in my faith and my relationship with God through reading scripture and prayer. I’ve invested in my relationships with my children by spending more quality time with them. I’ve also invested in my health by incorporating healthier eating habits and exercise into my days.

I can sacrifice the trip to the mall, the dinners out, the game nights, and parties – because I’m not looking at the here and now… I’m looking to the future. 

I hope and pray that everyone else is looking to the future too. 

In love,

Jennifer

Jennifer Bly

Author of My Kitchen, My Classroom: An Introduction to Homeschool and creator of The Deliberate Mom. Jennifer writes about parenting, homeschooling, her faith, and life with her husband and two girls. Jennifer has a Bachelor of Applied Human Service Administration Degree with a specialization in Early Learning in Child Care.