Parenting in the time of COVID-19

I am shocked by how much an unknown virus could in a little more than two months have changed life this much across the whole world. Not being a science-y person you will not hear me talk about the virus. The massive change it has brought, however is one that has rocked us and has us on edge.

Sudden travel bans, grocery stores being picked clean, palpable fear on the train, running from folks that cough or sneeze around you, 401k’s being decimated, possible recession on the horizon if not already here, potential job cuts looming, there is a lot of fear out there.

There is something about the unknown that scares us. Lisa and I have been talking a lot about the virus recently and we slowly have become aware that our kids have been soaking this up. How did we come to know this? One night my son wanted to change the 76ers game to the news to hear more updates on Covid-19, and my youngest proactively asked if gymnastics was going to be canceled because of the “Corolla” virus.

We are so overwhelmed by everything going on that we as parents can miss the affect this is having on our kids. Our kids and teenagers may not have words or questions they are actively asking but they are watching, experiencing, processing and fearing!

Parents, seize the moment. They might not have the framework to think through how to view this situation from a Christian perspective. Talk to your youth and little ones about your fears. Don’t shy away from questions like, “where is God in the midst of all this?”  They are watching to see what trusting in God amidst global chaos looks like. What does my parents faith do for them in a situation like this?

As parents, after all our fear-filled talks we had to ask ourselves, “What does God have to say to us in the midst of all of this?” Before we could even talk to our kids we had to remind ourselves of God’s truth to us.  I encourage you all to do the same, fill yourself up with truth from the Scriptures.

If you haven’t listened to Sunday’s sermon from Pastor Siby, I highly recommend you do so. The bible tells us to ‘fear not’ more than 365 times. We are in a broken world and fear is a tactic of the enemy. Even though we are prone to fear, we see God in His gentleness reminds us in scripture over and over again to fear not.  We need to deposit those words into our hearts and then help bind them in our children’s hearts.

Psalm 43:5 – Why are you downcast, oh my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

Psalm 56:3-4 – When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?

You might think your teen doesn’t want to talk about it but tik-tok and social media is already talking to them. Their friends are filling in the gaps of what they should be thinking, feeling and doing. Don’t let that be the only voice they hear from. They need to hear gospel truth many times over and there is no other person/people they need to hear from more than their parents.

Here is some practical advice:

Read scripture together with them.

Encourage them to memorize scripture. God’s word is powerful and gives us authority and a foundation to stand on. Here are a few verses of Scripture to memorize:
Ps 46
Ps 43:5
Ps. 56: 3-4
Ps 91:1-2
Matthew 6:25-27

Don’t be worried that you don’t have an answer to give them.  If they have a question that you don’t know the answer to, admit it. Search for it together, ask other believers, email me and we can work together to address them.

Serve with your children.

Social distance doesn’t mean we distant ourselves from relationships.  Encourage our kids and teenagers to think of ways to serve our neighbors and be a light in this dark time.  Maybe a thoughtful card for a neighbor left in the mailbox (cleansed with Purell?), offering to grocery shop for the elderly, pray with them and ask the Spirit to show how they can serve others in a wise way.

Lastly pray with your children.

One of the most encouraging things I have seen in my house was hearing my kids pray about the virus.  My daughter prayed, “Lord help the doctors get funding and figure out a cure.”  With child-like faith she wasn’t afraid to ask God for something big.
Why should we not fear? We should not fear because God is with us. God is not shocked or dismayed by this virus. He is still seated on his throne and we are his children that rest in His powerful and capable hands. Though we are not in control of seemingly anything, our hope comes from our God who is in control and He is the same yesterday, today and forever.