I had plans today to talk about my visions for Harrison’s new big boy room. The plans I’ve been making for theme, colors, and decor. But I feel compelled to change that given the national upheaval and fear that the coronavirus has taken over in many Americans’ lives. Let me start by saying, I am not an expert, and I do not purport to be an expert of any sort. I’m just a mom to a little one year old boy. A daughter to parents who are over the age of 65. A granddaughter to a grandpa who lives in a senior assisted care facility many, many miles away from me that is currently on lockdown. A sister-in-law to a sibling with an auto-immune disorder. And I myself, am 21 weeks pregnant with our second little boy. This is just one tiny voice among millions in my little corner of the internet world.

The entire nation seems to be at one pregnant pause right now. Waiting to exhale collectively…I stood in line on Thursday evening buying provisions in an attempt to provide us food for several weeks to be able to avoid the grocery store. And as I picked up each item off the shelf, I wondered if the person who had placed that box there had been sick, and unable to stay home until they were healthy.

There are millions of Americans that are in low risk categories for this virus. That if contracted, they are likely to recover with no lasting effects. Many of my friends are in this group. Almost all of my coworkers. I think it’s easy at a time like this, when the media is sending out non-stop messages about the virus. When massive events, sporting and otherwise, are being cancelled wholesale, to assume that it is blown out of proportion. That society is getting it wrong. I have wondered this too. Every day, I wonder this, and hope that it is blown out of proportion. And I’ve overheard many people say, “well, this isn’t going to change what I’m doing in my life.”

But I’d ask you to stop and think about the very nature of that statement. The sense that my low-risk friends, family, and coworkers will likely be unaffected by this virus in serious long-term ways, and think beyond just yourself. There is a moral obligation to care about the downtrodden, the sick, the less fortunate. It is a virtue on which our nation was built. It’s foundational to many people’s faith, including my own.

Putting before oneself the people that are at higher risks for serious complications and death from this virus. And rather than put our own self-interests first, put the nation’s interest first. Or your grandparents, or your friend’s son who has an auto-immune disease.

I take some comfort in the fact that the very limited information we have at this point about the virus’ impact on unborn babies that seems to show that no negative impacts are passed along to these children. I take some comfort in the fact that children seem to not be severely impacted by the negative consequences of the virus. I can’t imagine how it felt to be a parent when other diseases were spreading that caused significant harm and death to children and unborn babies. And I honestly take comfort in the number of people I see washing their hands A LOT, and using hand sanitizer. But I worry that not enough of our low-risk group will stand up for those in the high risk group and do what is uncomfortable, and inconvenient for them. To stay home as much as possible, to stay away from doctors‘ offices and hospitals except for serious medical conditions. It can’t just be a few of us making sacrifices and hoping to change the curve. It takes a majority of us.

For me, I’m going to try to find a bit of joy in the lack of outside social obligations, and instead the time that Harrison, Nathan and I have to spend playing soccer in the backyard, smoking meats, and blowing bubbles. Happiness in the fact that daylight is getting longer, and my tulips are starting to come up. I’m going to find happiness in the fact that at this point, all of my family is still healthy and well. And I’m going to try to push back the nearly constant anxiety and fear that has seemed to overtake much of my thinking right now, to say to myself over and over again, Do Not Be Afraid. For I am With You.

Wishing you all peace. And good hand washing. 🙂