“After years of being taught that the way to deal with painful emotions is to get rid of them, it can take a lot of re-schooling to learn to sit with them instead.” – Barbara Brown Taylor

In a meeting with school leaders earlier this week, I acknowledged the extreme duress facing school leaders, educators and parents with children learning at home, along with the physical suffering endured by so many others. Uncertainty, ongoing changes, and exhaustion are common. I reminded them that we are in the longest marathon of our lives, and spoke to the significance of prayer, exercise, community and mental health. One of this week’ s opinion columns from the New York Times places these tensions in contrast with the reality of how long life will be different: Stop Expecting Life to Go Back to Normal Next Year.

While the current climate disasters, racial injustice, and pandemic crises can feel all-consuming at times, I strive to focus on that which is good. Daily I try to recognize the blessings God grants me. Today I am so proud of my kids for their resilience throughout distance learning, I appreciate their teachers and school community, and I am so grateful to be able to open my windows for fresh air. I have taken a walk with my family during both breaks of the day thus far, and look forward to our next one after dinner.

Breaking down next steps in manageable portions is key for me these days. I’m looking ahead to a couple more calls, catching up on some emails, and then helping my kids with their homework. The picture depicted above is a sign that I passed by today in my neighborhood- it’s a nice reminder to you, too!