A slew of curse words met my ear from a fellow customer in the parking lot. The cause? A hand-lettered sign hanging in the window: “Masks required for entry.”

It’s an interesting time to be alive. All across the globe, countries are taking measures of precaution in order to protect the people from spreading coronavirus.

Over the past several months, you’ve probably interacted with at least people who think differently than you do on the topic of, well, just take your pick: coronavirus, masks, or the government’s response to it all (not to mention the upcoming election).

Now there are even more issues to fight about with your neighbor, co-worker, and family members. In fact, you don’t even need to talk with someone to disagree with them: just look at their face and see if they’re wearing/not wearing a mask. Now you can know who’s on your side just by looking at whether their mask habits agree with yours. So be nice to the people who agree with you and fight with those who don’t, right?

Maybe not.

What if there was something that united us more than just our opinions on government, health, and vaccinations? What if there was some factor that helped us come together from across different sides of the issues? So that even if (when) we disagree with other people, we could still love them?

Oh yeah, there is. It’s called humanity. People.

I’m one, and – if you’re reading this – so are you. Your opinions might change over the next 50 years; but people are what really matter.

Because differences tend to be so obvious these days, it makes it the perfect time to show love to others. It doesn’t take much to speak a kind word, but it means a lot. I was walking out of Walmart the other day when a shopper behind me called to the employee at the exit: “Thanks so much! Have a great day!” It probably cost her two seconds to say those words, hardly any time at all. But by taking time to show kindness, she brightened my day, even though I wasn’t the intended recipient of her words.

Grocery delivery services have become increasingly popular over the last year, but I have friends who have made free grocery runs for the elderly people who are trying to stay in isolation, and they inspired me to help out my older neighbors in this way.

A lady in my church donated hours of her time and skill to make masks for health care workers, and I’ve heard of multiple people doing this all across our city, state, and country.

Most recently, I heard a story of a masked shopper paying for an un-masked shopper’s groceries. Two people who think differently on the mask issue, but chose to extend love instead of fighting.

Perhaps when differences are most noticeable is when love is most necessary.

However your opinions conflict with those around you, remember that the people you disagree with are humans just like you with problems just like yours, and work to show them the kindness you want them to show you. COVID-19: It’s a perfect time to love.

(Christa Threlfall is an author, pastor’s wife and mom of four. She writes regularly at BrownSugarToast.com.)