We’d like to encourage and empower our parents during this time where many are advised to stay at home (whether working or practicing social distancing) without child-care for a period extending well beyond the usual March break window.
“And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”
Deuteronomy 6:6–7 (ESV)
What a vivid reminder of the biblical mandate for parents to be the most important teachers in the lives of their children! A job that cannot be sub-contracted to the wonderful yet supplementary individuals found in departments of education, day-care facilities and the likes.
In fact, our homes are permanent stations of the familiar show and tell moment. In light of this, how are you modelling your response to this lifestyle interruption? What are you communicating in terms of giving instructions, boundaries, guidance and counsel? Remember, our actions are what give our words credibility and authority.
Below are 3 categories to help you frame a strategy, a couple of suggestions and examples, as well as a few links to resources to help kick things off:
1. Activity
We long for quality time with our children, but often struggle to find that time in-between commuting, work and other scheduled activities. Receive this “silver lining” as a gracious gift and embrace the challenge of making unforgettable memories in these uncertain times.
- Make a plan, write it down. Don’t freak out! Even the worst schedulers have some basic structure around their sleeping and eating :) In addition to plenty of free time, your list might also include some of these elements*:
- Get outside. Apparently, spring started today! Try going for a walk, or a jog, or spend just a couple of minutes getting some fresh air out on the porch.
- Inside fun. Of the analogue kind. Consider limiting recreational screen time and replacing that with something else. Draw a picture, play a board game, build a complicated puzzle, or read a book together as a family.
- Learn something. Whether a skill, a scripture, a fun fact, or school-related revision, learning doesn’t have to be on hold. Perhaps kick this one off after the official march break, as kids are technically still enjoying time off from school :)
- Household chores. Everybody is washing their hands, but I’m sure there are other things that need a good clean too :)
- Eat (and prepare) meals together. Try doing this around a table and not your TV. From placing the plates to pouring the drinks, everyone can be involved! Ask each other questions and be interested in the answers, practice table-manners, pray, etc.
- Make individual and group goals that you can track together. For example: The Maks are timing the laps they run around their park, hoping to improve on it each day; The Standers have a list of DIY projects to get through. Maybe you have a garage that needs cleaning or a cupboard that needs organizing?
* Find more suggestions and ideas under the “Adoration” section below.
2. Acts of Service
During a time where some may act unethically and exploitatively, we have an opportunity to behave differently. Our current habits will model wisdom, generosity, compassion and empathy to our children. Speak about your decisions, and explain your motives behind them. Some suggestions below:
- Set food or supplies aside to share with neighbours, charities or others in need.
- Make a list of people who you know might be vulnerable, lonely, or in some kind of need. Include your children in reaching out to them, sharing something encouraging (a kind word or scripture) or something physical from the first point above (while practicing the appropriate health & safety guidelines of course!).
3. Adoration
Who or what we ultimately adore (i.e. worship) will be more obvious than ever with all this time spent in close quarters. Every day is an opportunity to show who we believe is the ultimate source in our time of need and the ultimate comfort and hope in our time of uncertainty – Jesus Christ!
- Read (& memorize) scripture together. You don’t need to be a theologian or Bible teacher, just let God’s Word do the heavy lifting. There are some good passage suggestions and tips in the articles below.
- Read theology or devotionals together. Learn about who God is and what he has done in a systematic way. Again, there are some good suggestions in the links below.
- Tune in together as a family on Sunday morning 11AM for our live-streamed weekly sermon.
- Include music that is filled with biblical truth and worship of our Trinitarian God in your playlists at home.
- Pray together. Leverage your family mealtimes, as it could provide up to 3 intentional moments to pray together! Your conversations around the food should provide plenty of content to pray through :) Share the load by getting different people to thank, praise, and make petitions. We will also be live-streaming our corporate prayer times every 2nd Monday evening – so please join us for that as well!
Much love,
The Maks & The Standers
Resources and links:
Free resources from Crossway for your stay at home. From craft ideas to devotionals and podcasts, this is a fabulous list.
https://www.crossway.org/articles/free-resources-for-your-stay-at-home-during-covid-19/
Need help with teenagers? The Rebelution is an online blog by teenagers, for teenagers. Most posts are quick to read and cover all sorts of relevant topics for teens – including COVID-19!
https://www.therebelution.com/
Tips and activities for how to talk to kids about COVID-19 from Kerri, a friend of the Maks, and a children’s ministry leader:
https://www.cornerstonechurch.ca/talkingwithkids
The Gospel Coalition, Don’t Waste your Family Quarantine:
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/waste-family-quarantine/
Need some books to read? New Growth Press can help (FYI, City Gates currently uses some of their resources for our kid’s ministry).
For teenagers: https://newgrowthpress.com/teens-young-adult/
Younger children: https://newgrowthpress.com/children/
Check out Paul Tripp’s talk based on his book Parenting: Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family at https://youtu.be/MDlMI7B4a2A?t=1120
