Staying Home Can Be a Blessing, Not a Burden
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What was Sunday like for you as a child?
Was it just like any other day of the week or was it special? When I was a kid, Sunday was a day to be home with your family because all the stores were closed and most businesses were idle. There was no place to go—so you stayed home and learned to just be yourself with your clan.
As I look at the current state of life amid the Covid-19 pandemic, I am reminded of life as a child on Sunday. Believe it or not, I have very fond memories of having that day of rest each week while growing up. Thus, it doesn't seem quite so abnormal for me or strange to shelter in place at home with my family.
Several decades have passed since my childhood.
Since then, the normalcy of staying in for a day (much less a month or more) is foreign and disconcerting to most people—especially for anyone who is dating. I get that we have been given a month of Sundays to live through. I understand that life has taken a 180 turn from what used to exist. But my question is this: Will you be able to stay home in peace or will you exist in anxiety and fear?
To see the current situation we live in as a blessing rather than a burden requires a different mindset; one that comes straight out of the 1950s and 1960s.
Let me offer a few thoughts that can help you gain a new and more pleasant perspective about sheltering in place.
- Get up, get dressed, and pray. Back in the day, Sunday began with early morning Mass as a family. We'd roll out at the normal time (no sleeping in!), dress in our best, and head to church. Being with Jesus was the purpose of the day. Christ was someone special to get up for; someone worth dressing up for; someone worth spending time with.
- Prepare your food intently. Then dine. Mass was followed by a big breakfast cooked by my father. It was prepared with loving care and eaten slowly. Sundays were about lingering, not rushing.
- Catch up on your reading. Expand your viewpoint. After we ate, we read the paper to learn about the world and its antics. Sections of the newspaper were passed around from one person to the next. Family members would comment on their favorite comic strip, sporting team, or opinion piece. The crossword puzzle was completed. The market earnings or declines were reviewed.
- Close your eyes and rest. Sunday naps were perfectly normal. Everyone found a cozy place to snuggle in and simply rest. If the weather was overcast or cool, nap time could last most of the afternoon. But, if the sun was shining brightly, the snooze was more like a 30 minute power nap.
- Check in with your neighbors and relatives. Sunday was the day to call members of the extended family or visit the neighbors. It was a time to listen and learn. Stories were shared. Concerns were related. Questions about life were discussed.
- Play. Do something just for fun. At some point, the family would play a game together. It might be tag in the yard, a board game on the kitchen table, or a rousing game of charades. We enjoyed being silly and spontaneous.
- Clean Up. Then retire. At the end of Sunday, everyone chipped in to ready the home front for the coming day. Dishes were washed. Clothes were laid out for the morning. Personal hygiene was attended to. Order was restored in the home before the lights were extinguished.
These suggestions come from a day and time when the world was slower and life was less complicated. They reflect a beautiful way to connect with oneself, one's family, and God. They provide a template to flourish as a person and become the man or woman God intends us to be.
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