They’ll Remember

I know it’s a scary time. I know that we’re all looking for answers, solutions, statistics, etc. Our phones and computers are glued to our hands and eyes. We’re anxious, fearful, isolated, and if we’re honest, confused.

This doesn’t make sense. Why we’re having to stay home, stay away from others, and be still. Everything was fine until it wasn’t, right?

But let me tell you something, by God’s grace, my 9-5 hasn’t changed (well, apart from a newborn being added to the mix), and while I’m not saying this to make anyone feel bad, I’m saying this because I know the thought of being home constantly with kids is scary. They can be a lot, emotionally, physically, mentally, but there’s something you have to remember.

They’ll remember these days more than we will. Yes we’re living in it, but they’ll remember the most. And my question is: what do you want them to remember?

Do you want them to remember the way you were glued to the news or to your phone? The panicked look on your face when yet another case was reported and the outcome wasn’t good? The way you complained about the way your life has changed and how you don’t want to be doing this? That you have “better” things to do than stay home to protect yourself and others?

Or do you want them to remember the time they got to spend with you? The way you got on the floor and wrestled your boys? The way you played dress up with your girls? The way you made chocolate chip pancakes in the middle of the day with them and then put them in the sink to wash syrup off after (Guess what we did today ☺️)? The way you put your phone down to watch the same movies over and over, wear pajamas all day, and have special time to pray for others? Do you want them to remember they joy you had in getting to play pretend, make messes, and laugh til your sides hurt with them?

Do you want them to remember the way you sacrificially served your elderly neighbors, friends, college students, and the immunocompromised when it didn’t make sense? Do you want them to remember the way you stopped to serve not only them but those around you? Do you want them to remember the good parts or the bad parts? Do you want them to be fearful of every time they hear the word “virus” or do you want them to remember the way you loved and served so that they can do that too?

We can look at this situation either way. We can be fearful and worry and complain that this isn’t going our way; or we can see this as an opportunity to serve, love, give, and sacrifice. We can look at this as an inconvenience or as an extra opportunity to spend more time with our loved ones.

Kids look to us to comfort and peace in the same way that we should look to Jesus. This isn’t a surprise to Him, at all. He isn’t fearful or worried or twisting his hands in anxiety. This is part of His plan for His glory and our good. And maybe, this is a way to bring us back and closer to Him. Maybe this is His way to show the world who He is through the way the church loves and serves. Maybe this is His way to remind us to rest in Him. We’re being forced to slow down and stay and get our hearts, minds, and eyes back on Him.

I know this isn’t something we would’ve picked for ourselves. This is so far from our plans and it’s rocked our worlds. But whatever you’re thinking and feeling, remember the others. Remember the way seniors in high school aren’t getting to spend their last few months of high school with their childhood friends. Remember the college seniors who have worked so hard to get where they are, who were looking forward to all the things they get to do as seniors, taken without warning. Remember the elderly, as they fear being around too many people and then it could be over for them. Remember the ones with compromised immune systems, the fear they always have of catching something being multiplied by 100. Remember the ones who are on the frontlines, figuring day and night to get this under control.

And most of all, remember the kids. They’re just as worried and scared because they get that from us. Remember that they see and hear more than we even realize. Remember to put your phones and computers down, turn the news off, and be fully present with them. Remember to show them selfLESSness, that this isn’t to protect ourselves, but others.

Because they’ll remember. They’ll remember it all. So let them remember the love, the fun, the laughter, the sacrifice, but most importantly, the way you trusted Jesus.

Jesus is better.