Spread good, not germs has become my rallying cry for the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak. You may be wondering what good you have to offer when your days have been devoted to caring for your child with special needs and disabilities for a long time.
As it turns out, your role as a caregiver has prepared you for the COVID-19 outbreak.
You have already completed crash courses in infection control, social distancing, dealing with doctors and insurance companies on the phone, family togetherness, homework supervision, virtual relationships, and more. You've been doing this stuff so long, it's second nature to you. Therefore, you have expertise to share with families struggling to adapt to a new normal.
Even so, you may not realize what you have to offer.
I'd like to point out 6 ways your caregiving experience has prepared to you spread good, not germs until this COVID-19 business settles down.
Photo credit: Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash.com.
Spread kindness. Many times since COVID-19 hit the scene, my patience has been strained by people complaining about how hard social distancing is. I'd like to tell them to put on their big girl panties and stop whining. But then I remember how much the kindness of others meant after our son's diagnosis–encouraging cards, offers of help, money given. The list goes on and on. Our country's present circumstances are an opportunity for caregiving families to control our natural instincts and choose to pay forward the kindness we've been shown.
Spread reassurance. Now is our chance to speak true reassurance to families who haven't experienced hardship before. We can't say everything will be okay. We have no idea if that's true. But we can reassure people that we care about them, that they are stronger than they think, and that they have untapped reserves of creativity waiting to be unleashed.
Spread resources. Chances are, you've amassed a list of online resources for families and kids. Most likely, you are an old hand at connecting with family and friends online. You might even have a system in place for keeping track of your resources. That means that you are poised to effectively share resources and systems with others. So do it!
Spread practical tips. You've spent years perfecting a host of skills: cooking while supervising kids, slow cooker and freezer meals, making every dollar stretch, creating mental space for yourself in a crowded house–you get the idea. Your ideas seem like nothing to you, but they will be a godsend to others. So share them on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter to make someone's day a little easier.
Spread friendship. By spreading kindness, reassurance, resources, and practical tips, you lay the foundation for friendship with people brought into your life because of COVID-19. To build on that foundation, respond to social media acquaintances who are struggling. Share an encouraging word or story. Arrange for a virtual chat over coffee. Ask how you can pray. Set up a daily virtual check in time. Offer to be an accountability partner. Be a friend.
Spread the gospel. In uncertain times, people seek the true source of stability and certainty. When we share our stories of God's faithfulness, when we describe the stability we lean into day after day, we are sharing the gospel. Furthermore, people are listening, and they have time to think about and respond to what they hear.
You, dear caregiver, have been prepared by God to spread good, not germs during the COVID-19 outbreak. You have everything you need to share the hope of Christ with frightened and weary families. You can make a difference.
Jolene Philo is the author of the Different Dream series for parents of kids with special needs. She speaks at parenting and special needs conferences around the country. She's also the creator and host of the Different Dream website. Sharing Love Abundantly With Special Needs Families: The 5 Love Languages® for Parents Raising Children with Disabilities, which she co-authored with Dr. Gary Chapman, was released in August of 2019 and is available at local bookstores, their bookstore website, and at Amazon.
