Birthdays in the time of Covid 19

Good friends of our have children with birthdays today and tomorrow. Today their oldest turned eight. Tomorrow their second-born turns four. Birthday parties are an important part of kids' lives at these ages. But they aren't able to get together with their friends, or even their grandparents, aunts, uncles, counsins, etc.

But they can still happen--just not in a normal style. Our friends put out a message on facebook for people (mostly from church as they didn't have contact info for all the classmates) to drive by between noon and two and give a birthday greeting. We walked over since they're in the neighborhood. We took some happy birthday banners and a couple of cards we made. The family was in their front yard. They had a sign out front for the birthdays. There was plenty of sidewalk chalk decorating the driveway.

A few other families were parked in front of their house. We waved to each other. At one point we all sang happy birthday. While we were standing there I saw a police car drive by on the side street. A few seconds later it came back. My first thought was that we were in trouble for all being out, though we were all over six feet apart (outside individual family units of course). The lights came on the squad car, but then we heard, "Happy birthday!"

A little while later my wife and I left to continue on our afternoon walk (the kids had biked home on their own). Just a block away I noticed a police car heading toward us with another one after it. And another one. By the time I saw the third one, I figured the first guy had called in and gotten a few other officers in the area to come by to wish a happy birthday to our friends. But it wasn't three cars coming by to give their well wishes. It was seven. The lights went on and we heard their bullhorn saying happy birthday to them. I admit, the tears welled up a little at the outreach of the law enforcement.

And it wasn't just them. When we were standing at the end of their driveway, countless strangers driving by rolled down windows and shouted happy birthday. OUr friends even said that one guy walking by gave them the seven dollars he had in his wallet. Everyone understands how hard it is to be a kid (or even an adult) in this time.

Even in this time of being sheltered-at-home there are ways to love our neighbors. We always have a chance to be the good in the world.