Well, the COVID-19 pandemic thing has come to the US and lots of us are required to stay at home for at least a few weeks. Yesterday, we had a family meeting with my three teenage kids to discuss what the stay at home requirement means to us. As you would expect, the extroverts were a little jittery and the introverts were reflective.
As I type this, I’m concerned for each reader of this blog because you are forced to navigate this abrupt change and I suspect it could be difficult for you for various reasons, such as financial struggles, health challenges, social dynamics, future uncertainty and probably more reasons than I could list. I also think that we might generally be ok with this stay at home requirement on some days and on other days, it might not be so good. In order to stay healthy in these weeks, here are some key areas to consider:
- Mental Hygiene – In Proverbs 23:7, it says, “As a man thinks, so is he.” To this end, we would be very wise to consider not only what we think about (taking an inventory of our thoughts), but to also be careful about what we watch and listen to, since the stuff we give our minds and emotions is what they will absorb and digest. To upgrade your mental hygiene in this season, consider memorizing Philippians 4:4-8 for some life-giving nutrition.
- Rental Hygiene – This is a little similar to mental hygiene, but still important because this is a proactive step we can take, to help us come out of this temporary situation with some good results. What I mean by rental hygiene, is what we allow to rent space in our soul. It can be tempting to do some Netflix binging, Star Wars or Lord of the Rings Marathons. But maybe we could make some constructive decisions for this season, like learning a new skill. What have you always wanted to learn or explore? Maybe this is the time to drill down into some YouTube lessons for that skill, hobby, or side interest that you’ve wanted to explore. Let’s also stay physically active with some sit-ups, push-ups or some kind of exercise regime because our bodies are the temple of God, so let’s take care of God’s rental property. Additionally, since we’re in Spring, rental hygiene could also include Spring Cleaning (windows, clutter clearing, refrigerator cleaning, culling through the closet, etc).
- Dental Hygiene – Let’s remember to floss daily, along with brushing our teeth. In addition, let’s pay attention to our words, what we say and talk about with neighbors, co-workers, friends and family in this season. What we say is a good indicator of what’s going on in our heart, emotions and thoughts. Jesus says this in Luke 6:45c, “…’for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.‘” To this end, let’s fill our hearts with life, genuine love, hope, truth and more than anything, the Lordship of Jesus.
With the unique opportunity that COVID-19 is giving us, let’s make active choices with our daily routines to grow and come out of this with stronger faith and greater confidence in God’s power and love!
