I don’t know about you, but I’ve been struggling with patience lately. Staying home around the clock with two tiny, BUSY humans while working on publicity campaigns where everything is having to pivot around the pandemic is exhausting.

The news is depressing.

No one has been in this situation before and no one knows the best way to handle it.

No trips to church, or Target, or out to eat.

No playdates.

Our nation is understandably on edge and we’re all feeling isolated from each other and the routines we appreciate so much.

In our house, we have all been a little cranky and I’ve raised my voice and lost my cool more times than I’d like to admit and while I’m trying to practice abundant grace in this wacky season, I’m ready for a shift.

We all need it.

So this morning, just as my 14-month-old son threw his entire bowl of cereal on the floor and my three-year-old daughter started making a snow angel in it (I cannot make this stuff up!), I wrote “Love Is Patient” on my hand as a reminder/last resort of what I know is true from my favorite passage in the Bible.

It’s an experiment and I’ll report back but I’m praying this helps me remember to take a deep breath and have more patience with myself, my family and our country as we all get through this hard time – together.

We can do this and we can do this with JOY.

What will you write on your hand? How will you pursue joy in this season?