Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties

Camp COVID: 100-plus Days In

Congratulations friends, you have made it over 100 days in Camp COVID. It's hard to believe that number is even remotely accurate, but unfortunately it is. You are braving this storm well and should give yourself much credit where it is due.

You have undeniably been through the wringer...persevering through doubt, anxiety, stress, financial unbalance, the fear of contracting illness and workplace uncertainty. Now, we wait as we still wade through these ambiguous waters and try to find normalcy amidst the chaos.

You have undoubtedly learned a thing or two in what to "hold in high regard" or what is "for the birds."

Like family, how spending your time and space with them whenever possible is so important. How your children thrive within your presence and how sincerely wonderful quality time is; or how precious every breath truly is and that you never know when your world can be flipped on its axis. We have learned to not take anything for granted, not sweat the small stuff, and to bask in each moment spent with those we love on this gorgeous God-given earth. Each moment adds up to the beautiful mosaic we call life and life is so precious. Fear is the enemy and we are stronger than that fear. God has got this and that is the best assurance of all.

This week we had a wonderful weekend celebrating my daughter's seventh birthday, brother's 33rd birthday and Father's Day. We embraced the showers throughout the week and were graced with gorgeous weather over the weekend. We may have had to have a few smaller parties versus one large one, but the celebrations and time spent with those we love were graciously received by all present. We hold dear what we can make work during these strange COVID-times.

This virus may be throwing us a few curveballs and the world may feel like it's imploding one month at a time, but we are stronger than everything being thrown at us. I have faith in humanity and that with God by our side we can conquer anything. I pray you all are staying positive in that fact and the knowledge that you are not alone in this. We are in this together and together we will wade to the other side stronger than before.

Sentinel-News contributor Iesha Toft lives in Royal.