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There are some things that I was willing to let go of these past weeks -- hugging, praying in church, eating out and shopping on a whim, to mention a few. But when it comes to grandson Deacon's fourth birthday, I thought my heart would break for him that we and his other grandparents and cousins could not help him celebrate in person.
We knew it was the best thing to stay away and not interact with those little outstretched arms that he and his sister Hannah always have for us. Drive-by birthdays are becoming the norm with "Happy Birthday" being sung from the safe distance of the sidewalk.
Adults understand. Four-year-olds don't quite get it.
Facetime has been a godsend so that we can at least see and hear family members in real time. Separation anxiety, however, is real and is starting to show with many. Those home-delivered meals to the elderly living alone were not just about eating. Those visits meant another person would be there to give a hug and smile needed almost more than the nutrition. With that contact no longer allowed, sadness is creeping in.
I have yet to see my new grandniece born in Ohio, but watch her growth and development online. The visit to another niece and her baby daughter recovering from life-changing surgery in Pennsylvania has been shelved for the time being.
This time of extraordinary social distancing is a sacrifice that offers the best hope for taming the spread of COVID-19. I know that and so do you. And I realize that so many have suffered the loss of loved ones and the death count continues to rise.
My sacrifices are small, insignificant compared to those of the people who put on the scrubs and uniforms of our first responders every day and face uncertainty.
Next week marks Holy Week in the Christian faith, Passover for the Jewish faith, as well as Buddhist and Hindu observances. Each faith, each congregation has its own beliefs, its own foundation. Yet, I believe that whether we kneel, stand or bow, we will all be praying for the same result -- an end to this pandemic and the scourge it has placed on the lives of many.
Be safe, be well and be thankful for what you don't have.
Heather Ziegler can be reached at hziegler@theintelligencer.net.