I would like to share with some thoughts…

Today we all live in hard time.

Practically, every person feels effect of pandemic in his life. Many people have lost their job or amount of work have decreased. People, who are going to other countries for work, meet obstacles. It is hard for people who have chronic diseases or need a medical treatment, not connected to corona, to get to hospital. For example in Cherkassy city, Ukraine (a center of region, where I live) there are already two situation, when women who came to hospital to give birth, were not allowed to get in and were forced to give birth outside, in front of hospital…

Children have to study online. Even in such developed country as England researched has shown that level of education went down at least for 25%. What can we say about Ukraine or Russia where not all children have smartphones, lot of teachers are 50 y.o. and older and it is hard for them to teach kids online.

Many peoples’ life quality went down. In poor countries, similar to India, there are many people who are working and receive payment daily. Prohibition or limitation for movement or travelling sentenced these people and their kids for dying from hunger.

But pandemic also has good parts.

Many people, who were too busy for fellowshipping with friends or spending time with their families, suddenly have lost their rhythm of life. They got lot of free time and in some cases it has strengthen friendship or relationship with family members…

Also, this free time is opportunity help someone.  In some regions, where traffic of public transportation is limited, you could give a lift someone to work, bring food to old people of single mums.

For example in Kyiv, a city with official population of 4 million people, traffic of public transportation was limited for two weeks. Short trip by taxi had a price 500UAH (20$), which is approximately equal to 60 tickets on public bus or subway.

Prices for food and public utilities increased. In Ukraine many retirees have a question – to pay bills for public utilities or to buy food or to buy necessary meds?

At the same time, our life became more unstable and shaky. Many people have died because of corona-virus or its complications. Many people have serious health problems.

Many people need help and support.

Considering this, I offer you to thing and ask yourself such questions:

1) If I die today, would anyone remember me after one week, month, year?

2) If I fall sick and could not work anymore – could anyone support me and my family?

3) Do I value enough my husband or wife, my parents, kids of friends?

4) Do I need all belonging that fills my house, garage, shed? What with happen to it if I won’t exist?

If You are satisfied with answers to all these questions – You are doing all right. If You aren’t – may be you have to change something?

I would give my situation as an example.

I am married and have 4 kids. Because of poor health of my wife I work at home and perform translations from 8 languages. I don’t care about my health, do not visit a dentist, don’t care about my bronchitis, waist…

When I receive orders, I could perform them mainly in evenings or at nights, because in daytime I have other issues and children often abstract me. Buying bananas, cheese, meat is a luxury for me.

At the same time, in Russia bulldozers are crushing cheese and sausages from Europe, people in West are organizing weddings for their cats and dogs make them inherit their belongings…

Think – right now you can show kindness. Give out you suit, which you have bought for high price 10 years ago, but did not wear even once for last three years… Give out an old bicycle of your son or daughter to family with a many children, living in the neighborhood. Mow a grass in a yard of an old lady. If you are living in Europe or USA, send 50$ to some post-soviet country. This sum would be sufficient for buying a food for family, consisting of 4-5 people. These actions would not cause you material losses, but would help you to feel as a noble and kind person. If you believe in God, you could become an answer for someone’s prayer.

I would like to emphasize – I don’t say, that you have to support me personally. For sure, you have poor people in your town, district. I am not talking about people, who are addicted or lazy. Ask their neighbors or your friends. Speaking about supporting to people in other countries I don’t talk about Ukraine only. It could be Russia, Belarus or Tadzhikistan.

I would like to end with story from my life. We are friends with one single mum, who has five kids. I think that I am poor person. But when 6 years-old girl said to my daughter: “You are lucky, you could eat potatoes every day”, I just came out from room…

God bless you!