Nothing Can Separate Us from God’s Love by Tina Y. Gerber

The enemy we face, tries to lure us towards panic and worry. He has thousands of years of experience in tempting and appealing to man, hoping we will turn our backs on God. He is a liar and teller of half truths. His desire is to produce and create chaos in our world. Now it is more important than ever that we spend time in prayer. So, because of this, during this time of isolation and self quarantine we will have many opportunities before us. Even when we feel anxious, sad, confused and uncertain, let’s not get distracted. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”. Philippians 4:6-7 This is certainly a challenging time for seniors living at home throughout Ontario. Seniors aged 70 and older are among the most vulnerable to the virus and have been told not to leave their homes unless absolutely necessary and where possible, seek services over the phone. If you are a senior living at home, or family member of a senior who needs: help getting groceries, medications and staying connected, help is available. We must lean on each other, don’t be afraid to ask for help. We need to continue to pray and trust our good and gracious God for all our needs today and all our concerns of tomorrow. My Mother was a survivor of the great depression. While growing up she would store up canned goods and preserves, and grew vegetables in the backyard. From that we enjoyed tomatoes, zucchinis, green beans, potatoes, and a variety of fruit, because she said, “I will never be hungry again!” Nothing was thrown out, frugality was a necessity. My step dad was a trapper and hunter, so we knew the value of recycling hand me downs and making the most out of what we had. At the time, I was embarrassed that my sisters and I shared a shelving unit from the old IGA store on queen street! My step dad disassembled and assembled it and we used it for piling our clothing and books on. Today, these values aren’t lost on me. When Mother moved in with us, she had tons of canned goods, mostly expired, but she said “in desperate times we need to take desperate measures!” It was amazing what we found when we cleaned out her home, she saved almost everything! Many seniors can share amazing stories of growing up during World War II and the sacrifices that were made. One of our greatest gifts as a human being, is the ability to choose how to live life. However, during war times and warlike times this isn’t always possible. As we go through life, our personality and attitudes become shaped by our experiences and our responses to them. Living a meaningful life opens your heart to feeling thankful. Things that try to bring uncertainty are always going to be a part of life. It’s difficult to imagine what life must have been like back then, but perhaps we are understanding a little better today. I wonder what our grandchildren will take away from the present world situation?