“Pizza is here.” That’s what my husband said. He just got home from having his car washed, and now he’s going to watch Michigan play Wisconsin. It’s a battle to the death! (Not really).
Sometimes, with our busy schedules, it takes real effort for this family to do things together. Even when we’re at home, often we’ll be spread across the house, and nary a person will meet until it’s time for bed.
**I actually started this blog back a few days ago…
I don’t know what happened then. Something got me off track. (Must have been some really good pizza.) Anyway, I’m pretty sure that we weren’t sitting at the dinner table. The girls were in their bedrooms as their dad watched the football game. I was probably on my laptop working on another book.
I spoke of our family doing things together, and that was how life was in our home last October. Now is a very different story, of course. Coronavirus is changing the way we live, the way we act, where we go, and what we do. I’ve been reflecting on how this is going to influence us as a community, as a nation, and as a world “post-pandemic.” I’m sure there are a lot of people out there wondering the same thing. Will this be the “New Normal”?
Can good come from this virus?
I certainly hope so. Over the last two weeks, I’ve noticed a change in the Warren household. We’re staying home—using less gas, cooking dinner and not eating out (a huge expense for our family), keeping in touch with distant relatives, communicating with our neighbors, and spending time together all from or at home. For us, it has rekindled that elusive thing called family time. On Wednesday, Danielle walked into the living room and asked if we were doing anything on Friday evening. Mark and I looked at each other; then I said we had no plans.
She got this evil grin on her face and said, “Can we play a game on Friday night?”
I looked at my husband again, and he shrugged, saying, “Yes, what do you want to play?”
She and he had gone to our storage unit and brought home some stuff. “I found the game Taboo, and I want to play it.”
“Oh,” I said. “Okay, I like Taboo. Sure we can play that.” Boom! Family time.
Now I haven’t played that game in years, but I remembered how good I was at it. So, here I am, thinking my husband and I will win and blow the girls out of the water. Turns out, I’m not as smart as I thought. Oh, well, we had fun, and each team won a game—so I’ll call that a win.
The future may look grim…
As I sit here and write this, I’m thinking about the situation our world is in and wondering where this will end. I also think about the fact that many people have contracted this horrible virus (CDC Covid19)——almost 500,000 cases as of this date and way too many deaths. I wonder what the Lord is doing to reshape our nation. Only He knows. And some of us question God.
In the book of Job, we read about a man who goes through a very difficult time, and he begins to question what God is doing. While I am writing this post, I’m reminded of a verse in Job.
If I go to the east, he [God] is not there; if I go to the west, I do not find him. When he is at work in the north, I do not see him; when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him. But He knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. (Job 23:8-10)
I find these words comforting in these uncertain times. I’m so thankful that God knows our path. I’m not sure what that means for you, but for me, it gives hope. Whatever we’re going through—sickness, job loss, financial difficulties, bad relationships, or death—we can have hope that God knows what is going on and will make all things work together for His (and our) good. He will bring beauty from ashes.
In the meantime, stay safe. God bless and keep you all!
