About the Author

Now graduated from her role as a homeschooling mom of 8, Dawn Camp devotes her time and love of stories to writing her first novel. She enjoys movie nights, cups of Earl Grey, and cheering on the Braves. She and her husband navigate an ever-emptying nest in the Atlanta suburbs.

(in)side DaySpring: things we love
& you will too!
Find more at DaySpring.com
(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
Find more at
DaySpring.com
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  1. Our favorite grocery store was 1 of the first to lift the masks required mandate. I was acutely aware I was next to the only one in the store not wearing a mask & felt like I needed to explain. “I’m fully vaccinated, caffeinated & ready for smiles & hugs!” I also felt the pressure to smile genuinely at every single person I passed. Some of those folks obviously physically distanced themselves from me. Your encouragement to offer grace to others with a different comfort level is point on! Thank you for sharing. I will give a measure of grace to myself & not let those not ready to smile back at me make me feel guilty. Grace upon grace!

    • Ruth, I think you’ve hit another point: giving grace to ourselves when those around us are more or less anxious than we are; it can go both ways. Seeing smiles again has been very nice.

  2. I still find it hard to believe what we have all been going through. While my anxiety level has dropped a little, it still feels like something is not right. I rejoice that I am able to attend worship on Sunday (we are a small congregation and easy to keep socially distanced), but gathering elsewhere continues to cause concern. I still feel myself pulling back from people I do not know well as my mind starts wondering if they are “safe” to be near. And I do not like that I feel this way.

    • Madeline, last year I remember watching a movie (that was filmed pre-COVID) and feeling uncomfortable during a crowd scene because everyone was standing so close. We adopted new ways of living last year that will take time to unlearn as we become comfortable again. Give yourself grace to handle it at your own pace.

  3. Dawn, thank you so much for sharing so beautifully how most of us feel. Your lovely and heartfelt words have lifted me today. God bless you, God bless us all. The Lord is faithful and understands what we are going thru and He will bring us thru and out to much brighter days full of hope and peace again. He never fails!

  4. Dawn so well spoken. Covid had us if we let worry about things we would have otherwise not have ever worried about before in our lives. But I believe Covid as Follower of Jesus. Is Jesus teaching us to see in theses days and last year when things were all over the world alot worse. Who is your real trust in. Is it in Covid or the God who made this world. That has you and me in his hands. When the world most them were panicking. Especially more so last year. Will I catch it. Will my elderly parents get it and die. Especially if it hit the Nursing Home. Their parents were in. If in one. Covid could then take over lives if we let. People who would worry more not put our trust in the one and only true living God. Especially if not saved. If saved.That is what the Old Devil want You to do. As we be sad if we had elderly parents or a family member in a Nursing Home. Especially last year more so. When not allowed to see them. What made things worse was if you heard of someone in the Nursing Home that you had a loved one in thank fully I didn’t have anyone in a Nursing Home. But for those that had. If they heard a person in it had died of Covid. You the family members would panic more. Will it be my Family member next. The Old Devil would love it that you be worrying. So I was so glad my 79 your old Dad now 80 was still living at home. We pop in an out just do what we had to for him. Because of the Pandemic. Not stay long. I being the only one saved in my family. Would apply the blood of Jesus over my unsaved Dad when saying my prayers for him. For God to keep him safe. Along with the rest of my family. Who are not saved. Jesus was so good. By his grace my prayers were answered. As my Dad and my family when Covid was really bad last year. Were kept safe. They are still kept safe today. Because I still apply the blood of Jesus around them all. So I am thankful for The giving Grace of Jesus in the days of Covid. Last year and today. Even the Grace of Jesus before Covid even came into being. I trust God for everything. Thank you Dawn for what you wrote. Love Dawn Ferguson-Little keeping you all incourage in my prayers. Xx

  5. Gods grace abounds. This is so beautiful said. Thank you for speaking such wisdom. Gods blessings to you and your family.
    Diane

  6. This was a beautiful message Dawn, and reminder thank-you for sharing .
    Blessings to all,
    Penny

  7. Thank you for these beautiful and powerful words today. I truly try to live by them daily.

  8. This post is spot on! At the beginning of the pandemic, my congregation was told to extend grace to others who made different decisions. Thanks for the reminder that grace is still needed. Actually, it’ll always needed and fortunately for us it’s always available.❤️

  9. Dawn,

    God made us all unique. We each have different levels of comfort. For me Covid didn’t change my life much. Hubby & I still went to work (hospital) & did the usual things. Biggest difference was wearing masks for 9-12 hrs. daily & not having church in person. Felt bad for the patients as they couldn’t have visitors at all. I think not getting the vaccine is crazy, but I understand it is your right. People not wearing masks drives me nuts, but again I understand. Being a Christian I will do my best to be a peace maker & give everyone grace. I am willing to listen like Jesus with my whole heart-truly see & hear you & offer you grace & peace.

    Blessings 🙂

    • Beth, you are offering grace to others from the hardest place, when you don’t agree with their decisions. Blessings to you!

  10. He gives us freedom to choose yet our choices need to be aligned with His will..

    • Since we have no way of knowing His will in this (and if it’s different for different people in different circumstances), the best we can do is give grace to all. Blessings to you, Jasmine!

  11. Oh Dawn, my heart needed this today! Today has been hard and this touched my heart and made me feel so much better! Thank you for your most timely words that were like balm to my weary soul.

    • Veronica, it’s so true that we need to extend grace to ourselves too. I didn’t think of that when writing this article, but you ladies have reminded me in the comments!

  12. Could cry at the grace and wisdom you share here. Thank you for this exhale of grace. Covid has taken much, but has also give much, just as you’ve said. Clinging to the truth of grace in this season as I continue to make the decisions I believe are best for my tribe. Love to you, friend.

    • Rachel, thank you so much, sister. That’s all we can do: give each other grace and make the decisions we believe are best for our people. xoxoxo

  13. Thank you! Relevant reminder today! In the words of a song: “Love God, Love people”! 🙂

  14. Dawn, I’m so very grateful for your words here. I need the reminder to give grace to those adjusting and choosing differently than me. Thank you!