Hidden Good

HOW COVID LOCKDOWNS UNLOCKED HIDDEN GOOD

By Liz Omondi | Email: timestodayke@gmail.com |

It is said that, every cloud has a silver lining, yet when you think about the dark cloud of COVID-19 that covered the entire world, many have struggled to see that silver lining around it. Millions of people lost their lives, others source of livelihoods, while others sunk deep into depression.

Is it possible that any good could come out of the pandemic?

For 21st century socially active human beings, lockdowns was a completely strange phenomenon that had never crossed their minds, yet it had been experienced in past centuries and thus reminding of the Scripture in Ecclesiastes 1:9 that says “That which has been is that which will be, and that which has been done is that which will be done. So there is nothing new under the sun.”

There are a couple of Biblical examples of lockdowns including when God instructed Noah to build an ark where he and his family and living creatures, male and female of every kind were going to be locked in the ark for a long period of several days.

Genesis 6:5-8, 18-22 says, The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. So the Lord said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found favour in the eyes of the Lord.

18-22 18 But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark—you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives with you. You are to bring into the ark two of all living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you. Two of every kind of bird, of every kind of animal and of every kind of creature that moves along the ground will come to you to be kept alive. You are to take every kind of food that is to be eaten and store it away as food for you and for them.” Noah did everything just as God commanded him.

For the silver lining to appear, usually is hidden the beautiful, sun’s rays behind the cloud so as produce the silver lining. Without the bright light, the silver lining would not be present. ing. There are several testimonies I have heard where new opportunities arose for people and new businesses were birthed while others thrived, some spent more quality time with their loved ones and families were reconciled.

Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” As I spent more time with my husband and children at home, I had to think of creative ways we could do things together to make home a fun place to be.

The children had to learn new ways of learning no matter how uncomfortable it was. Regular office workers had to adapt to working remotely and still be productive. Church ministers had to find creative ways of doing streaming services online and keep congregants engaged. Wearing masks was strange and uncomfortable, yet for the first time ever it meant booming business for the manufacturers of personal protective equipment (PPEs).

As a wife and mother, I learnt to be a barber and a good one at it. I would have never learnt this ability had it not been for the lockdown and the extra caution we had taken to avoid contracting the disease at all cost. Unfortunately, this meant less profit margins for the local barber.

After several years of watching my daughter’s hair being plated, I had to learn this skill on my daughter’s hair. Today, I have perfected this art, that no longer have to take my young one to the salon and wait in queue for her to be attended to. This has helped me save lots of time and dollars that would have been used at the salon.

One of the hardest hit industries in our country during the lockdown was the hospitality industry. This meant the death of cravings for restaurant food, or fast food lovers. But this mama had to use her imagination and creativity to google and tweak some of recipes used by some of the best restaurants in town. And to her delight, wets her families appetite with her food and has kept her family happy when she makes pizza and other extra delicious meals that easily rival top rated eateries.

That is how COVID lockdowns unlocked hidden potentials in me. What’s your story? Encourage someone with your testimony by sending an email to timestodayke@gmail.com