By Nancy Virden (c)2020

A woman once said she couldn’t wait for her children to go back to school in the fall. As a homeschool teacher, I didn’t get it.  I had a nice three years to mentally and administratively prepare for homeschool. I would not want it thrust on me without warning. I imagine many parents are wishing for school to return to normal. 

Maybe some families are liking homeschool. Having so much quality time might have come as a pleasant surprise. Then too, parents used to leaving for work each day are home with each other 24/7. Hopefully, this gives healthy relationships a chance to blossom and grow. 

Redeem the time

Opportunity to show your children and spouse how deep is your love for them does not come around often enough with everyone in separate parts of town. Seize the day! Make cookies, go for a walk. 

Use this time to talk to each other. If you have questions for family members, avoid interrogating them. Ask one or two pertinent questions and save the rest. Perhaps you would rather share what you are thinking. Ask for the time from your family. Wait until they are free to fully listen. 

Redeem the time with your children by inviting them to cook with you, read to you, or create mud pies. Sons are often more rambunctious in the house while daughters are adept at making big messes too. Is there a room you can clear out and play ball with them there? Transform one wall into a giant drawing board. Let them create scenery on the wall and put on a play.

Follow through on my ideas from earlier blogs, however, make it a family affair. Hide and Seek, scavenger hunt, board and card games, video games, or a sheet-and-blanket tent in the living room are each a road into your children’s hearts. All they want is time with a patient, involved, listening, non-critical and accepting You.

With Easter this week, try to take advantage of the many online church services. Sit your children and spouse down and read the book of Luke chapters 22-24. The NIV dramatized audio Bible is available at BibleGateway.com.

Pray to Jesus together for your neighborhood, city, state, and country. Pray for leaders to seek wisdom from God. Lift up to God the front-line heroes who are working in hospitals, and as first responders. Ask for their protection and wisdom.

Talk as a family to Jesus asking him to enter your hearts, your home, and your future. The whole reason God sent his Son to earth was to reinstate our family tie with God, the Father. 

Today’s Helpful Word  

John 1:6-14

There was a man sent from God whose name was John.  He came as a witness to testify concerning that light so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

 

Always the Fight Ministries (ATFM) has been displaying compassion for those fighting mental illness, addiction, or abuse since 2012. Nancy is the founder and voice of ATFM and openly shares her emotional resurrection from despair. 

*** COMMENTS ALWAYS WELCOME

NOTE: I am not a doctor or a mental health professional, and speak only from personal experiences and observations. In no way is this website intended to substitute for professional mental or behavioral health care.

If you are feeling suicidal, or concerned about someone who is, in the U.S. call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or for a list of international suicide hotlines, go here.

If you are suicidal with a plan, immediately call 911 in the U.S. or go to your nearest emergency room. In the EU call 112. (For other international emergency numbers, go here ). Hope and help are yours!

*Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright (c) 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.., Carlo Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved