We are living in unprecedented times. But we all know that, don’t we? I know there will be some who do not take our current global crisis seriously. They won’t follow the guidelines to social distance or stay indoors as much as possible, or wash their hands, or take care to sanitize and stay away from even inanimate objects, like packages we receive until we’ve let them sit untouched for 24 hours. It all sounds like something out of the Twilight Zone, as one friend told me.
Some of us are scared. Anxiety over lost income, fearful that we might lose our health, sudden uncertainty about tomorrow. Where do we go with our fear? What do we honestly do, even as Christians, if we find ourselves faced with doubt that causes us to ask—is God listening to our cries for help?
THEN THERE IS THAT OTHER NEMESIS THAT SOCIAL ISOLATION BRINGS. LONELINESS. BOREDOM. WHAT DO WE DO WITH ALL THIS TIME ON OUR HANDS? HOW MANY TIMES CAN WE CLEAN THE HOUSE? WHAT IF WE DON’T FEEL LIKE CLEANING THE HOUSE? HOW MANY WAYS DO WE TRY TO OCCUPY OUR KIDS AND HOW LONG WILL WE HAVE TO DO THIS?
To find yourself suddenly homeschooling is daunting. The first year we chose to homeschool, even after a thousand hours of preparation, that first day was tough. Every Monday was another day in learning patience. It’s not easy to be completely alone and it’s also not easy to be together 24/7.
Maybe some of us have it easier. I’m thinking of the introverts among us who enjoy solitude. But no one wants to be shut off from society unless they truly have hermit blood in their veins.
So while we are sheltering in place, I thought you might find a few suggestions useful to stay sane.
If you have young children:
Try to see this as a time to bond with your kids. Sure, they’re going to drive you crazy sometimes, but you’ll never know how much they enjoy just being with you. Spend one-on-one time getting to know them better, no matter their ages.
Put away the cell phones and iPads and get out the old-fashioned board games. Play card games or do a scavenger hunt for their favorite toys around the house. Do a puzzle together or pull out the craft items and coloring books and take time making something together.
Pull out your cell phone and make a YouTube video of something humorous. If you don’t mind the publicity, maybe your child plays an instrument or loves to dance or reads really well. A child reading a story to other children just might catch the attention of seniors who can’t get out either and could use a reason to smile.
Make up corny jokes. Or if your kids are old enough, work together to create a sentence or a story. Have one start with the character, another choose the verb, and another the preposition. We did this in homeschooling and came up with some funny sentences. Example: Tiger (noun or character) jumped (verb) under the umbrella. (prepositional phrase) Be goofy. It’s more fun that way.
Easter is coming. Start early and make homemade Easter gifts or bake Easter goodies and freeze them for a few weeks. Engage your kids in learning to do domestic things.
Do you have old photos? Make a photo album. If all of your photos are digital, let your kids help you make something with them in Shutterfly or another online photo shop. I’ve made mugs and a photo album this way and it’s a lot of fun.
I know it’s not Christmas yet, but why not make the equivalent of an advent calendar? Years ago, I made one out of felt. I had a big piece of felt (though you could probably use cardboard), and made little felt pockets and tied them to the bigger piece. Inside each one, I hid treats for each day of advent. Since we don’t know how long this lockdown/self sheltering is going to last, you can fill it up a week at a time or a month at a time. Having something to surprise them each day can give little children happy anticipation instead of frustration.
Get out the cardboard and scissors and hot glue. Let your kids build things from their imagination. Or pour out the Legos on the floor and see who can be the most creative. We have some amazing creations leftover from the days our kids did just that.
Make an indoor flower or herb garden. If you can send for seeds, you can let your kids help you set up a place to watch them grow. If its warm enough where you live to plant outside, just keep your distance from neighbors. But engage your kids in helping where they might not have been interested in doing so before. If they are helping you, they are spending time with you. Win win.
Read to your kids. This is something we did even in good times. Every night we read a story before bed. Lay next to your child. It’s a memory well worth making.
If you don’t have kids at home:
If you are a Christian, this is a great time to spend time with God. How easy it is to put that off when we are busy with life. But when we are surrounded by solitude and that solitude gets lonely, don’t just read a book. Use this time to get to know the God in whom you believe.
Keep a journal. Maybe keep two journals. One could be to record the daily happenings about this COVID-19 virus for future generations. The other could be for prayer. Our prayer list keeps growing as we hear of more needs.
Pray. I cannot emphasize this enough. Our health care workers on the front lines need our vigilant prayers for their own safety as they help people hit by COVID-19. Pray for your loved ones, your friends, your neighbors, your co-workers, your government leaders, the widows in your family and among your friends, the people you know who need Jesus.
Find a home project and work on it little by little. This one is hard for me. I look at a mess and it paralyzes me. Right now we can’t even take our things to donation places as they are closed. But you can still box them up and set them in a spare area (if you have one) for the day when donation places open again.
Paint a closet. Clean drawers and cupboards. Throw out truly outdated food. (I know some dry goods last long past their best buy date, but some things like canned goods have that date for a reason.) Don’t make yourself sick on food that is five years past date.
Go through your clothes closets and drawers. Do you wear everything you own? Could those things be given to someone in need, when that time comes that you can give again?
Catch up on your reading. Take walks around the block. Stay away from crowds. Wash your hands.
Watch humorous videos on YouTube. Laugh. Laughter is good medicine. Catch up on Netflix documentaries or Prime movies you haven’t seen in ages. Classics are often worth repeating.
Bake something you haven’t baked in a long time. Learn to bake bread or make your spouse their favorite dessert. That is, IF you could find flour and baking items at your grocery store.
Never lose hope. While we are sheltering in place, remind yourself that God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in time of trouble. Psalm 91:1 reminds us, “Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” God is with us, even in this. Use the time to learn to trust His heart, even if you can’t see His hand working.
We are sheltering in place for the short or long term. It wasn’t how I envisioned my life even a month ago. I fully intended to fly to Oregon to see our new granddaughter in April. I planned to drive to Traverse City, MI to see my mom in May or June. Now both of those are indefinitely on hold.
My husband is used to substitute teaching several days a week. Now he is finding all kinds of time to paint and fix things around the house or catching up with old friends. And he’s quite content doing so. We’ve gotten a little lazy most mornings, but it’s a good feeling to start the day slowly, pray together, read what God has for us to learn that day…the constant togetherness is peaceful. We know God is in control of this. So while I work on two books, he works on house projects. And we take daily walks around the block.
I don’t know what you will find yourself doing with your time during these uncertain days. I hope some of these ideas are new to you and perhaps a little helpful. Homeschooling brought out a lot of creative ideas in this house and I just thought I’d pass a few of them along.
Be safe, my friends. Trust in our great God. He isn’t peering down on us surprised by any of this. And He knows the exact day it will end. He may test us. He may want us to look up to Him in this trial and not just at each other. To know that His love for you has not changed. He knows where you are and what you need most.
In your times of fear, loneliness, or restless longing, perhaps the answer isn’t in waiting for change. Perhaps the answer is right in front of you. And Jesus is holding it in his hands, waiting for you to see Him as He really is—the only answer to our questions and doubts—the only true Light in a dark world.
Lover of Jesus and His Word and all things related to learning more about the culture and times of the people of the Book, particularly the women, whom God has immortalized there.
