So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12

While much of our life has been on “pause” during the coronavirus pandemic, I’ve been motivated to sort through our family’s rather ample collection of memorabilia and photo albums, letters from the war years (WW II), etc. Although the ribbons, report cards, and grade school art projects and essays may not make the cut, the family photos are treasured remembrances of our family’s history with its highs and occasionally some lows, of loved ones who are no longer with us, and are often reminiscent of a simpler time.

Among the family stuff were some letters my Grandmother Rogers had saved from her pen pal in England who always signed her warm newsy letters B.M.C. During the war years and long before the era of the Internet, these were two widows on two different continents, who, out of loneliness, had cultivated a deep and warm friendship. While they apparently exchanged small gifts and speculated on the political issues of their day on both sides of the pond, their primary subject seemed to turn to that universal subject – the family news.

The Psalmist wrote, “God sets the lonely in families …” (68:6).

In the very beginning, as He assessed the marvel of His new creation, God noted the single thing that was amiss: “It’s not good for man to be alone. …” (Gen. 2:18) The union of the first husband and wife marked the institution of the family that would be the genesis from which the whole earth would be populated, healthy communities and nations would grow, and the earth would be filled with the knowledge of our glorious Creator.

Let’s remember this. Jesus came to restore what was lost in Eden. Perhaps during this season of a pandemic, we’re all being forced to make our own assessments regarding our priorities as they’re reflected in the quality of our family life. Maybe it’s time to have that conversation about ridding the household of the clutter, the distractions and the time-wasters that will bear little fruit other than a momentary rush of self-glorification. There may be influences, potentially more toxic than the coronavirus, that need to be cut off.

This is my prayer for God’s people during this season. That, by His Spirit, the picture drawn for us in Scripture as a blueprint for the family would be our “new normal” – where the created order is honored (the husband is head of the wife, Jesus is head of the Church, His Bride, and God is head of Christ); where home is more than a stopping off place to refuel and do the laundry; where God’s Name and Word are held in the highest esteem and prayers and praises are offered up regularly; where the primary relationship in the home is the marriage; where Dad is the servant leader; where Mom protects and honors Dad; where the children honor father and mother; where love is practiced on a daily basis; where repentance is met with grace and forgiveness, and all is done to the glory of God.

What pictures will you be putting in your family albums?