A time to be with family

1 Corinthians 1:10 (NIV) “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.”

We are living in a time when we are required to remain at home, and the routines we have become so used to have been broken: mothers and fathers going out to work, children going to school, then everyone returning home after the day’s activities and continuing with the home time routine. Suddenly, this all changed. We have been restricted from going and coming in and out of our homes. Work and school are now all at home and we are with our families 24 hours a day.

With so much news about the virus however, fear about the current pandemic also presents itself within the family. It appears that this situation has changed all the ideas of comfort and security that our jobs and houses provide and we do not know when it will end. What should we do in light of this situation?

Here are some ideas that can help. It is a wonderful opportunity to actually be a family, and this is seen in the following:

Organize the running of the entire home by assigning chores to each person. The idea is for everyone to participate.
Organize each child’s tasks: study time, reading, chores, games, time for interacting with friends.
Organize meal times. Eat together and enjoy this time without cell phones, the news, television and without arguing or fighting.
Organize work hours for parents. To avoid interruptions, children should also be doing their own work.
Take time out to have fun with the children, or on their own, as well as between husband and wife.
Take time together reading the Bible. Family altar.
Take time to call other relatives and friends. Social distancing does not mean emotional distancing. Although we cannot hug at this time, we can show our affection through pictures and words.
Avoid allowing laziness, apathy, sadness and fear to creep in. Our bodies adapt very quickly to a lack of activity and this is especially true for children and young people.
Don’t get stressed or rush time. During this period, we have to take things slowly because we do not know how long it will last.
Above all, don’t be angry. Take a break from those areas of unresolved conflict with your husband or wife. Being a family during this time means facing this situation together calmly, united and in peace. This will lead to stability, security and patience and patience produces hope, as the Word says. With our faith in God, this will soon pass and we will come out stronger. When families are united, they provide emotional stability, encourage resilience among family members and teach them to overcome obstacles successfully.