COVID-19 Updates, Stories & Friendship – Anderson Connect

In this week’s Anderson Connect, we will be sharing the following, hope you enjoy!

• COVID-19 Update
• 2 short stories
• A video about friendship

COVID-19 Update

The Ontario government has announced an extension of the Stay-at-Home order. In the Toronto and Peel Public Health Regions, and the North Bay-Parry Sound District, the shutdown measures and the Stay-at-Home order will continue to apply until at least Monday, March 8, 2021. Although some regions are now exempt from the province-wide Stay-at-Home order, the advice remains in place for everyone to continue to stay at home, avoid social gatherings, minimize travel between areas with different restrictions, and limiting close contacts to your household is still strongly encouraged. For more information, please visit Ontario’s Newsroom.

Short Stories

We have all been facing challenges lately, here are 2 short stories to highlight overcoming adversity and making the most of our circumstances. We hope you enjoy reading them!

The Midas Touch

There was once a king named Midas who adored gold. One day, God appeared before him and asked him to wish for anything.
Being desirous about gold, Midas said, “Everything I touch should turn to gold.” God arranged his wish and told him that, from the next day, everything he touched would turn to gold.

Midas was very happy. He woke up early the next morning and started touching everything, turning it all to gold.
After a while, Midas felt hungry. He picked up a piece of bread to eat, but it too turned to gold. When he picked up a glass of water, it turned to gold as well. As Midas was thinking of what to do, his daughter rushed to him. However, when Midas reach out to her, she turned into a golden statue.

Despondent and teary-eyed, Midas regretted his decision. He asked for forgiveness and to reverse his wish. Pleased by Midas’ prayer, God asked him to wash his hands in the nearby river to rid himself of the golden touch.

Midas returned after washing his hands and found that all he had changed to gold had changed back to normal.

The Coldest Winter

It was one of the coldest winters and many animals were dying because of the cold. The porcupines, realizing the situation, decided to group together to keep each other warm. This was a great way to protect themselves from cold and keep each of them warm, but the quills of each one wounded their closest companions.

After a while, they decided to distance themselves, but they too began to die due to cold. So they had to make a choice: either accept the quills of their companions or choose death. Wisely, they decided to go back to being together. They learned to live with the little wounds caused by the close relationship with their companions in order to receive the warmth of their togetherness. This way they were able to survive.

Celebrating Friendships

To keep with our theme of celebrating love this month we reflect on our friendships.

It has been difficult lately to spend time with our friends how we are used to, but with the help of technology, staying positive and making time for one another, we are still able to enjoy our friendships as well having the support from them we need right now.

Friendship is a combination of loyalty, respect and love. True friendship can overcome even the most challenging of times. Be sure to make time for your friends this month, reach out over technology or enjoy a socially responsible walk if you can do so. Be sure to check in with each other and remember to value all the healthy friendships you have!

Check out this fun video about a little boy and the unlikely friendship he develops!