The UPPC Story Project: Florence Theoe

When we were directed to self-quarantine, I was not concerned. It would soon be over and I could go to church, see my family, even go shopping. HA! Two weeks later having missed church, a family birthday, AND a wedding, I fell apart. It was an unusual feeling for me, but as a social person who loves to meet and greet, I was so sad. Then Holy Spirit who lives in me through Jesus Christ helped me realize that if I was sad then people in my community must be sad, too. Now, what could I do to help?

I put on my mask and using social distancing, I rang doorbells and talked to people standing on their porch and they behind the screen door. Everyone was so glad to have the opportunity to communicate that in a way it was almost sad. I knew I was on a mission to cheer people up. I came home with the idea of putting little notes of encouragement on porches every Monday morning. The first one was a packet of tea stuffed in a baggie with a little poem:

A Cup of Tea
A cup of tea,
A cozy chair,
By the fireplace there.
Take time to calm.
Take time to find
A gentle peace of mind.
The day reviewed,
Better will it be,
With a cup of tea.

Then each Monday until Phase 1 was over, I would write out a scripture, a saying or write a poem with a little trinket I would find at a store, usually the toy department. Some of the surprises were flower seeds, a cartoon from the newspaper, a small bit of play-dough, and a party size favor of bubbles. Although the porch surprises have stopped, the visits haven’t. Sometimes at the mailbox, sometimes on the porch, sometimes walking down the street, I just make opportunities to be with people where they are. Well, what happened to me was I forgot about being sad! Praise God! And the mission continues.