Working exclusively from home is a whole new world for most of us. Where there was once separation between work and home now leaves awkward Zoom calls with work while trying to politely tell your child to shut it. Many of us have gained new respect for our child’s teacher, homeschool parents, and stay at home parents! We may not know how much longer this season of life will continue as is but we are one day closer to it being no more. With that thought “one day closer to it being no more”, I wonder if we are failing to embrace the beauty of this difficult season. Allow me to celebrate some lessons I’m being reminded of and hopefully encourage you to celebrate a win from this.

The “extras” in life have been removed and all you have is all that truly matters. Now I know with any generalization like that there are exceptions but if you will please, entertain me. Where there would have been ball practice, after school activities, “can’t miss” TV,  and other things that allowed you to feel like life was moving 100MPH, there is now down time with the family. There is time on the front porch, playing in the yard, going for walks, or just sitting inside and watching a movie all with the family. No, the stresses and worries of life may not have completely subsided but I am willing to bet that for many of us the chaos of life has slowed. The contentment to have moments with those that matter most to us has been refreshing. So with that, here are some quick takeaways I have gathered and I plan on practicing in the days/weeks to come and even after this season.

• Do not be too eager for business as usual.

This isn’t me asking you to wear guilt for wanting to return to work like normal, for wanting your favorite restaurant opened, or whatever else has been affected and removed. No, what I am saying is that you might be missing a key opportunity to address and even remove things in life that were distracting you from the roles that truly matter. Find your budget in better shape because of restaurants being closed? Maybe eat out less moving forward. Discover that your spouse will go for a walk after dinner? Maybe don’t worry about watching that game right at first pitch/tip off at the expense of that time with your spouse.

There are other areas you might be able to identify in your story. Be intentional about identifying them and deciding whether they should be put back on the calendar or giving so much of your time/energy once this season comes to an end. Otherwise, you may waste a lesson this season is trying to teach.

• Family Matters

You didn’t need a worldwide pandemic to teach you that. I didn’t either. But I did need a pandemic to remove all the distractions and allow me to sit with my wife and kids and laugh, talk, rest. I have never sat on a front porch more in my life or taken walks through the woods like I have over these last few weeks with my family. Typically, my calendar won’t allow me to do it most nights and then when I can I fail to do it. Our family has eaten together every night, spent quality time with one another every night, and actually enjoyed it! You only have so many moments with these people in your home, why would you want to say “no” to porch talks or adventure walks for a little more time with your favorite TV program, extra hours at work just to “get ahead”, or whatever else doesn’t truly matter at the end of the day.

• People Matter

I have missed so many of you. As a pastor I can take for granted that I will be able to see your faces on a Sunday or a Wednesday. Not having that has revealed how much I miss people and that interaction. This season has also fortified in my heart a truth that people matter. Surprisingly, social media has felt more uplifting on this front (even though over recent days it does seem to appear that the unspoken “cease fire” between us and our perceived “enemies” is lifting) with stories, videos, etc. aiming to encourage others. Why is this important to me? I want to honor and respect people. All people. Even those who disagree with me. Hate me. Those who are in error. Those who have done wrong. As a believer the gospel allows me to know that Christ died for everyone and there is no offense done to me that is greater than the offense I created between God and myself. Yet, there was grace.

So during this season I pray the Father cultivates and solidifies in me a heart that understands and believes people matter even when they don’t benefit or agree with me.

• Being a parent is the best

I understand not everyone reading this may be a parent. If that day comes, you will understand. I hope.

Hanging out with my kids has been a blast. They are sweet, caring, funny, and full of life. They are also human which means they are sometimes a bit much. So? Who else would I rather go through this season of life with? I mean, I blinked and they are almost 8,6, and 2. I am really trying to not blink as often but there will be a day when these tiny humans are no longer in my home (unless your my parents in which it appears they can’t get rid of us). So since they will be out of here one day I might as well get to make the most of this day. Some of you are doing projects every day or creating content with them every day. Well done! Others of us might not feel capable for such feats. Thats ok. Just hang out with them and talk. You will learn a lot and hopefully cultivate an element within your relationship that will always exist!

These are pretty generic takeaways but I have bene praying that God would not allow me to rush through this season without learning. I pray you will also pause for a moment and think about something you have learned/gained through this season! Once you think of it, share it in the comments! Who knows, it might encourage someone else to look for the same thing you are.