Awareness Month

April is Autism Awareness Month. It is also child abuse awareness month. Both are important, and there are a variety of resources available to enable us to focus our attention on them, to build empathy, and bring about helpful change.

There are many web sites which compile information about a variety of awareness days each month (click to see one such web site here). In April, at least in the United States, we apparently commemorate siblings, grilled cheese sandwiches, jelly beans, and chocolate truffles, to name a few!

I would argue that for almost everyone taking the time to read this, April has truly become AWARENESS MONTH. I’m guessing that like me, you are suddenly more aware of everything—your health, finances, loved ones, work (or lack thereof), housing, schooling, food, stability, coronavirus, social distancing, etc. Anything we might have taken for granted as little as a month ago is suddenly on our radar, either because it has been taken from us, or because we are now spending much more time doing it or thinking about it.

It is sobering to realize that in many ways, we are all in the same boat. Yet each of us is experiencing this somewhat differently. My heart goes out to those of you who have experienced significant losses, and those who are on the front lines battling the coronavirus or the many casualties of it (human life, health, employment, financial stability, etc.) Many of you are suddenly homeschooling children, including those with disabilities, sometimes while trying to continue to do your job. There are those who are experiencing job loss, loneliness, illness, or fear.

Please know that I am aware of you! I pray for you! We will get through this. We will be changed. But we are in this together. Please reach out if there is anything I can do to help.

Blessings,
Laurel

More than anything this month, I am acutely aware of my need for God! This coronavirus and its significant impact is really BIG, but not bigger than He is. I’m comforted by His presence, and the knowledge that He has a plan and a purpose for a hope and a future for us, and that He promises to work ALL things together for our good.

I pray that we will cling to Him, trusting Him as our Lord and Savior, and as the anchor that holds us in the storm. I pray also that we will realize that nothing that’s being taken away from us--or that we have been able to hold onto-- holds any value or meaning if we do not have an assurance of our salvation and the eternal life that awaits us.

Do you know the peace, joy, contentment, and confidence that can be experienced even when life rages around us? Please reach out to me today if you are not yet able to say, “It is well with my soul.”
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Matthew 11:28 New Living Translation (NLT) Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.