The opening hymn in Church this morning was music only—no singing on account of Covid-19. But I didn’t need to voice the words to hear them in my mind: “Because I have been given much, I too must give.” My mind traveled back almost 30 years. It was just before Thanksgiving in 1991 when a devastating fire destroyed our living room and flames shot across the ceiling and into the kitchen. I could hardly recognize my own kitchen.
A heavy layer of soot and ashes covered everything throughout the rest of our home. The teddy bears in my daughter’s room were no longer white. We wondered if the party bears were toasting marshmallows.
Two lines from the second verse of the hymn brought more memories to my mind. “. . . I cannot see another’s lack and I not share my glowing fire, my loaf of bread, my roof’s safe shelter overhead.” I remember the words of a dear friend who was away from home for Thanksgiving. She told our mutual friend, “Give the Owens the key to my home.” After several nights in motels, the comfort of a home was a blessing to our family—myself, my husband, and our three youngest children.
When our friend was returning home, we loaded our few possessions into the van and prepared to move into a motel once more. My daughter was helping me load the van. She said, “I guess we’re homeless, aren’t we?”
“No,” I replied. “Home is wherever we are together. But right now we don’t have a house to put our home in.”
“Oh, I get it. We live in a mobile home.”
Thirty years later I am still grateful for a friend who would lend us the shelter of her home. Grateful also, that while fire could damage our house, it could not devastate our family. We sorted through damaged belongings—discarding some, cleaning others, and replacing lost items. We adapted the way we celebrated and continued our treasured Christmas traditions. We made new memories. It took longer to rebuild than we initially anticipated because the fire was so black. Gradually the damaged portions of our house were removed and new walls were built.
We lived in a rented house while our house was rebuilt. After seven months we moved back home.
Our hearts are filled with gratitude for friends, family and fire insurance.
As Covid-19 is getting closer to the end, perhaps it’s time to examine my life. I found many things to do while sheltering at home. Which ones will I keep? What activities should I let go of? As I look towards a more “normal” future, are there pre-Covid things that I need to let go of? Are there previous choices I need to examine? Do I want to restructure my life in a different way?