We are Not Alone by Steph Beth Nickel

August 7, 1982 ... Dave's and my wedding day!

August 7, 2021 ... Our second son's wedding day!

And it wasn't even intentional—at least not from a human perspective.

Originally, Joshua and Ericka chose the date because it worked for Nathanial, my firstborn, and his wife. (They didn't realize it was our 39th anniversary.) However—COVID. Need I say more?

Travel from Scotland to Canada was a no-go.

And so, J & E decided on a super small ceremony and will, hopefully, be able to celebrate with far more people in a couple of years.

In the midst of all the upheaval of the last 19 months, there has been good too. Weddings, like my son and new daughter-in-law's. Births, like the little one who was born in March 2020, whom I got to meet the night she arrived. Dedications, like that same little girl's, a service I was able to attend just a few weeks ago.

All of these things—and so many more—have reminded me that we're not alone.

When I sat on my couch thinking how surreal this all is—I was not alone.

When I slept far more than ever before—I was not alone.

When I was cut off from family and friends—I was not alone.

When social media became a battleground—we were not alone.

When the news made us shake our heads and question how we could be so hateful toward one another—we were not alone.

When "going to church" meant sitting in front of the television watching a livestream produced by people who had never done so before—we were not alone.

A few months back, my hubby and I (along with several others) helped friends move. As a thank you, the wife, a precious friend of mine, gave me a hug. 

A hug. Can you imagine?

That hug woke something in me that had been dormant since Spring 2020. 

That hug reminded me that we need authentic connection. We were created for it.

It reminded me that God's love flows through the arms of a friend, even one we don't see for months at a time.

It reminded me that, despite everything that has come our way since March 2020, we're not alone.

If you're feeling hopeless and helpless—please know that you are not alone.

If you're feeling tired and worn out—please know that you are not alone.

If you're feeling like you need to see some of that good we talked about and experience hope—please know that you are not alone.

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20 NIV) (emphasis mine)