We’ve lived in our home for almost 20 years when our oldest children, now age 24, 22, 22, and 19, preschool age. Our neighborhood was young and newly-construction
Families flocked to our area for schools and quality of life
We loved getting to know our neighbors, spending time outside with them, stopping on the sidewalk to say hello or taking walks. Our kids played with one another, and when elementary school started, we had 12 or more neighborhood children who lined up in our driveway to catch the school bus. 
As the years flew by, and the children grew older, the scene of the neighborhood changed and the dynamics followed suit.
New families moved in. Close neighbors moved out and on, and our oldest children grew into adults.
On April 7, 2014, we brought our youngest son home from Haiti. With all of the joy and challenges of adopting a child, we did not realize that one of our greatest hurdles would be to meet parents our age with young children.
Like I said, our neighborhood changed as most do. There were new generations, busier families and a lot less interaction.
While there are only 2-3 children the age of our youngest, there are even fewer parents in the neighborhood who are our age and have a 10-year-old. God did, however, use the school bus stop to introduce us to a couple of new parents, we were able to build some relationships.
Ironically, during this time of “stay at home”, we have built more neighborhood relationships than we had 15 years ago.
However, we have been able maintain social-distancing in a seemingly contradictory way. We watch the sunset “together” across the fire pit. We listen to the bagpipe player at 7pm every weekday. We have time for relationship, time to say hello. There is time to have conversation (even from 6 to 10 feet apart).
It’s funny… ironic even… But “social distancing“ has created sweet community.
I know God has a plan. He has a purpose for our lives. He is our hope. He is present now and is preparing the way for future.
There are so many beautiful stories to share about community during the Covid crisis. Those stories will be shared and reflect upon for centuries… And hopefully, our world will remember how crisis created kindness and how that thread of kindness became a ripple, the ripple became a wave... then the art of practicing kindness will never grow old or dull.
Joy does not exist without sorrow. How could it? Love does not exist without loss. How would we know one from the other if only one existed?
What COVID may have meant for crisis or used for evil, God has meant for good.
Let kindness be the light in your life. Clothe yourself with it. Cover your friends, family and strangers with it. Be kind. Do good. Be an inspiration and a delight.
Keep the ripple rolling and the wave paving the way
April 24, 2020
COVID-19
Global Pay it Forward Day is April 28