7 Things You Might Forget to do During Quarantine

Last month life as we knew it came to a screeching halt. As we all adjust to our “new normal” (which changes every day), it’s easy for things that were part of our old routine to fall through the cracks. But they are still important. Here are 7 things you might have forgotten to do over the last few weeks.

Clean out the car. Yesterday I opened the backseat of the car and found snacks that I couldn’t even remember giving to my kids. The kids haven’t been in the car in who knows how long. I’m nervous to find out what else might be under the seats. I think it’s time to check.

Bathe the kids. If you’re like me, your bath schedule revolved around weekly social activities. With all social activities canceled I might need to actually write this one my calendar.   

Make a meal plan. Without school lunches to pack and evening practices to attend, it’s easy to fall into a whatever-works cooking routine. But intentionally planning meals can bring a comforting rhythm to family life. Print out your meal plan and post it where everyone can see it. Your family will look forward to it each day. Meals are a simple but profound way to connect. Our families need that connection right now.

Check on “church friends.” We naturally check in with family and close friends, but what about the people we only see at church? Their faces added comforting predictability to our weekly routine. Without church it’s easy to take them for granted. Try checking in with a different person every day. This will help you remember people you don’t typically talk to between Sundays.

Check on your pastor. Your pastor is checking on everyone else. Who is checking on him? The pastors in my life (including my local pastor, my dad, and my brother-in-law) have been on the phone non-stop. They are reaching out to every sheep in their flocks. They are delivering groceries people. They are having communion with the elderly over the phone. And they are still writing sermons. Pastors have their own families to tend to during these difficult days. Don’t underestimate the impact of telling your pastor that you are praying for him. Ask if his family needs anything.

Give to the church. It’s easy to view giving as a built-in part of church attendance, but it’s actually a built-in part of worship. When attendance isn’t possible, giving still is. But is it happening? Pastors still need to eat.

Get ready for Easter. Easter is going to be different this year. The special church services, family get-togethers, egg hunts, and church picnics will be missed. But Christ’s resurrection is still worth celebrating. Let your kids see you preparing. Get out the Easter books. Read a part of the gospel account each day. Print off some activities or coloring pages that help their hearts focus on the gospel. It might seem like bad timing for a holiday, but maybe it’s the best timing. Maybe hearts are softer. Maybe ears are listening. If there is one thing we can’t forget during quarantine, it’s that Christ died for sinners. It’s our greatest comfort and our eternal hope. Now, without all of the distractions our culture has added to this day, we can focus on what it’s really about. Make this the Easter your kids always remember – not because of what they didn’t get to do, but because of what Christ did for us.

Books by Sara Wallace

Created to Care: God’s Truth for Anxious Moms

“The gospel is the foundation for what it means to be a mother. It is always through this lens that Sara’s wisdom comes shining into our daily lives where joining all the dots can be tricky.” – Kristyn Getty, soloist; composer; hymnwriter; coauthor of Sing!

For the Love of Discipline: When the Gospel Meets Tantrums and Time-Outs

“The culmination of 30 years of evangelical thinking about parenting. Clear guidelines, great illustrations, and very practical.” – Pastor Steve, Atlanta

The Gospel-Centered Mom Bible Study

“The Gospel-Centered Mom is a huge gulp of refreshing air for moms who are in the thick of raising kids. It takes your eyes off of your performance and places them on the one who performed perfectly for us.” – Jessica Thompson, co-author of Give Them Grace