My daughter, Melody Gifford, and family live in Dalian, China, about 1200 miles from Wuhan, where the coronavirus outbreak started. Nonetheless, they are in virtual quarantine. I wrote earlier about their Valentine’s Day gift to their fellow shut-ins. Here’s what she wrote a few days ago:

From my windows in my empty choir room I can see a mom and three little girls playing near the track and the trees. I want to share their story to explain a little better the challenge of our lives right now with virus prevention laws in place.

All neighborhoods are closed. No one comes in or out except that we have government-issued vouchers, one member of the family can leave once every two days to buy food. We can have things delivered and pick them up at the gate.

Anyway, this mom and three girls used to swim every day. Then they closed the pool. Then they would run in the gym and do some exercises on machines. Then they closed the gym. So then they played on the playground and the sandpit… then those areas were also closed. Yesterday this mom told my husband, “now the kids play in the trees… until next they will decide to close the trees!” She explained that they have to take some time each day to run around and blow off steam, get some air. Too many hours on the screens, and 95% of it is troubleshooting. I feel her pain. But I loved the smallest child’s response when she heard her mother’s desperation. She smiled and said, “Mommy, no one can close the trees!”

Right, kiddo! Look for the positives. I’m thankful that we still can go outside. We still can walk around our beautiful campus. We still have the trees.

When I talk to my students in other areas of Dalian or other parts of China, I’ve learned that most of them haven’t been outside their apartment in a month! So, thanks for your prayers. And in the meantime, if you can, enjoy your trees!

Good lessons. Sometimes life is tough.

Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! (Habakkuk 3.17, 18, NLT)