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By Pastor Derek Lane
Maranatha Seventh-day Adventist Church
My 6-year-old granddaughter is the star of the family, and she knows it. There’s nothing better than a weekend, just her and me. She started school last week – back to packed assemblies, sharing snacks across the lunch table and, sometimes, sharing germs. I’ve been hearing about measles and whooping cough cases making their way around the country, COVID seems here to stay, and flu season’s right around the bend. But I don’t worry about her getting sick or our weekend plans getting derailed because we have vaccines to keep her safe. Who has time for illness and long-term health issues when you’ve got gymnastics, slumber parties, and your whole life ahead of you?
My granddaughter may be the star of the family, but she’s not the only shining light. I have four grown children too. One of my daughters is a schoolteacher. It’s a tough job when you’re healthy, and even harder when you’re immunocompromised, like she is. She counts on the community to keep her safe. Every student who’s fully vaccinated isn’t just protecting themself; they’re also protecting her.
And then I have my extended family – my congregation where I’ve been a pastor for over 5 years. We’re all about gathering. It’s how we connect, it’s how we worship, it’s how we serve the community. I want all my congregants to feel that our church is a sanctuary – a safe space where we can come together. By being up to date on my own vaccinations and encouraging others to do so, I am part of creating that safety.
Whether it’s my granddaughter, my daughter, a congregant, or a perfect stranger, I want us all to be able to fill our potential, to live our best lives now. So much is beyond our control, but vaccinations are a choice we can make today.
Talk to your doctor to make sure your kids have all their recommended vaccinations. No-cost vaccine clinics are being held all fall for south King County kids:
kingcounty.gov/findaclinic
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