I love shopping in bulk ,especially for the necessities we often need, to me its just a simple economic sense and I love saving some euros when possible. I remember when I was still new in NL, I was amazed at how people only bought the things they needed for that day. I would see the person in front of me with 2 bananas and 1 bread bun and would wonder, because for me, I would have eaten those 2 bananas even before I reached home. I guess the things he/she needed for that day.
My husband was the same when we met, if he needed to make pasta, he bought 200gm mincemeat, 1 paprika, 2 onions , 2 tomatoes , you get the picture . For me, I know I will need onions , rice or tomatoes the whole week, I will buy 1kg of each or more. It is actually cheaper and saves the numerous trips to the supermarket. His comments to me are always ‘’ who are you buying all these things for?” or when I cook more portions because that’s what I am used to, he always wondered if we had guests coming over . This has all changed and he is practically Kenyan now .
Yesterday, I saw a post in a group I am in, a single mother with special needs kids was not able to find diapers for her teen boy. This was the at the fourth supermarket she had been to because of the shopping frenzy going on and people hoarding stuff. I don’t dispute the fact this COVID virus is real and we need to be vigilant in talking measures to keep ourselves safe but we also need to think of those around us or the next person coming for that item you just cleared off the shelf. Hoarding supplies has nothing to do with the virus.
Yesterday, I received an email from one of the mega supermarkets, saying they are doing their best in re-stocking and that there is plenty at the distribution centers and we should shop as normal like we usually do. I later went to one of the supermarkets in my neighborhood to get formula. Earlier this year before all the COVID cases, I had done an analysis and I came to the conclusion that I was the only one buying the hypoallergenic milk from this supermarket.
So, I am at the shelf yesterday thinking, should I get my ‘usual’ supply of 4 containers or take 3 and leave 3?. I decided to take one less incase there was a parent from the other neighborhood going round the city checking whether any of them had that same type of formula. I always wait until we get some money and then buy things like diapers when they are on sale , then I buy even unto 10 packs. However, we are not in the ‘normal’ times and I can not go on shopping like this. We have to stop and be considerate of those around us with not the same capabilities like us.
Later in the day, I saw more posts about the elderly also shocked to find empty shelves meet them at the supermarket. Then I realized, for these group of people, getting out to buy 2 bananas daily was an opportunity for them to get out of the house and get some human interaction which they would otherwise not get. Because for them, they will not just go for the 2 banana a and back, they will talk for 15 minutes with the downstairs neighbor, another 10 minutes with the Cashier and the other random people along the way. They also are not one social media to see that tissue papers are now gold. For them this is their normal routine life and something to look forward to.
Therefore, this self quarantine will affect them so much. Most of them are not visited often by family and just today, all elderly home and hospitals ,have cancelled visitations.
I am also thinking of the families our church has supported through food package program. These families, mostly of single parents, receive about 40eur or less for their weekly upkeep and baby supplies. These families have no luxury of stock buying, they live from hand to mouth. Therefore , they make daily visits to the supermarkets for deals after they have calculated what it is they really need.
Then you have the normal, healthy and working class group of people like us, who have the luxury of buying an extra pack of anything we need or even want. Is this really the time to buy 6 dozens of tissue paper when you usually just buy 2?. Have we become greedy? This is definitely fear at work, that is making logical people make illogical and rational decisions. There is actually no manual for surviving these COVID times but here are some of the things we need to ponder on and as take home message.
* Fear is a liar and has no hold of us. What do we want to are we teach our kids with how we are responding to this virus.
* I know so many towns are under lockdown and 50% of the population are up for it while the others against. We live in fast paced communities of always going through the same busy routines and lifestyle. Maybe this ‘self quarantine’ period is time to cook those hearty family meals, love on your family, do those crafts you never have time for and maybe have dinner around the table. Ohh and maybe find those quiet times.
* Be honest with your kids about why you are ‘cancelling’ that playdate or birthday party. Teach them the importance of patience in the unknown.
* There are families currently separated due to the travel curfews implemented by several countries, limiting outward and inward travels. We need to check on the dad in our group who’s wife is stuck abroad and can’t mange to take all kids with him to the supermarket to get supplies or cook for the kids.
* Offer extra support to the mom , whose husband was to return from a business trip weeks ago but still hasn’t and she does not know how to cope anymore due to the unrest and not knowing how to answer the 100th question why is dad not coming home.
* Watch local news to get necessary facts and avoid channels that cause extra panic.
* The elderly in our communities need extra checks during these times. As you go for your supplies, can you get a few extra and pass it along to those around you?. I have a seen several posts in Maastricht and Den Haag of students putting up adverts outside their doors ‘’ please knock or call me if you are sick or not able to get your supplies or pharmacy rounds, I will do it for you”. Imagine if we could all be this considerate that the 1st thing we think of is the all being of others.
Another lady mentioned how she has rolls of tissues in her trunk and when she drives in the neighborhood or to and fro work, she hands this out to the elderly and needy she sees in addition to the extra home made sanitizers she carries.
* As you shop, be grateful and have empathy for the people working in retail.
* Do the best you can to keep yourself safe and those around you. Hoarding numerous bags of sanitizers does not make you immune to the virus. Think about others.
* I have seen 2 groups people, those saying let’s all self quarantine , shut down schools and those who see this whole COVID thing as a joke. All in all, this virus should at least teaches us to value life. Those who have lost lives and can’t see their close family members see this clearly, we all should.
* As you self-quarantine or socially distance yourself because your work can be remotely done, be mindful of those without that flexibility, those with temporary contractual jobs – where if you don’t show up, you automatically lose your job.
* In one of the school’s my church works with in Kenya, the children love to come to school because it is the only place they get their daily meals. There is no right or wrong in either keeping schools running or closed but we should keep in mind all connected factors. Including the parents working on contractual jobs and keeping kids home, means they need to find childcare for them which they have never afforded or even had to think about.
*Enough with the judging!. On of my colleague is half Japanese -Chinese and during a recent holiday trip, she literally saw people avoid being near her. It did not matter that she has not been to China in the recent months or year, its just because she is Chinese.
Who are we to judge? I pray this virus will leave having taught us to live as a community. I don’t suggest that they should have hugged her either. but a little kindness would have gone along way. Imagine, if this Chinese was the only one with supplies in your neighborhood, would you die of starvation in your house because she is Chinese!.
* We need to seize this opportunity and go the extra mile to love, serve our neighbors as we spread hope to counter the spirit of fear which seems like its winning now but there is hope.
* As you serve and go the extra mile, do this in wisdom and do not be reckless in the name of serving. Follow the health recommendations; avoid crowds, practice good hygiene and disinfect those surfaces.
* I just read this morning that food banks may suffer closure as well. Let us look out for opportunities to serve. By either dropping some soup and supplies at the salvation army or charity organizations that usually offer support to those in need.
* Give an extra donation or offering to your church or your organization, because when disaster hits, most people find solace in the church or Mosques.
* Pray for those with weak immune systems and for the elderly who we know already go through depression and loneliness everyday and this adds to it.
* Be grateful and pray for the health workers working overtime and having to stay away from their own families for long periods of time.
* Part for the separated families.
* Let us avoid unnecessary panic on what is seen , instead let us trust in God as He is sovereign over all this. lets….’’ fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.’’ 2 Cor 4:18.
There is no formula or manual on surviving this virus or how to carry out our lives during this time. Truth is, we are all like fish swept to the shores and now trying to swim back to the water. As we do this, let us watch out not to step on others and let us show grace to all, point is we all need it.
Joshua 1:9 ~”Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.“
Do not forget that fear will rob your peace and make you panic. …”He is a liar, he will rob your rest and steal your happiness” -ZW. Don’t give in.
We are surrounded with so many negative things, what are some of the positives you have experienced as a family or individual?
The Dutch government has canceled all gatherings of more than 100 people, so we are having virtual church today and the 99 will gather physically. Hope you tune in somewhere.
Be Blessed.
Mama Faith, Hope & Love.
No Comments