This blog post is part of our new series “COVID-19: A day in the life of…” where different families will give us a glimpse into their new lives during the Coronavirus crisis. In this series we will hear from parents who are keyworkers; who find themselves unemployed and unexpectedly homeschooling; who are juggling working remotely from home and providing childcare; from foreign missionaries and international families to learn about how this global pandemic is having a huge impact on families around the world.
As we see into their lives, we’ll get a chance to hear how to gospel is good news for them in the midst of this crisis.
The Vinall Family
1) Describe your family and what your average day looks like now under lockdown.
John is an IT manager, I work in patents. We have two children (Tirion, 7, and Nadia, 3), 3 cats and a dog. We split childcare 50/50 where we can. During the week we start the day with some exercise, then Tirion has to pick a few ‘educational’ things to do to complete the work school has given her and keep up with her writing, but mostly we take the opportunity to do fun things together, sneaking in an educational twist if we can! When we’re not ‘on duty’ we squeeze as much work as possible in. My work is mostly researching and writing reports, John spends most of the time on the phone to his team but we’re both fortunate enough to be able to do it from home. John is also an elder at our church so for him evenings often include more Skype/zoom meetings and working out how we can gather remotely and make sure those without the technology can still be included.
2) What challenges have you encountered?
Mostly my challenge has been frustration. We’d just bought a bigger house and big table with the hope of having people over more easily, we were just getting to know our new neighbours and planning get togethers, I was supposed to be travelling lots with work, we had a uni reunion planned and the kids had lots they were looking forward to… I’ve also struggled not to get frustrated with the kids when I have things I want to get done that day and they are demanding or cross or squabbling, and they’ve not appreciated often having to just wait. We usually live on a fairly tight packed schedule and having everything cancelled has been tough to accept for all of us at times.
3) What encouragements have you seen?
My daughter pointed out to me that none of us have ever been in a lockdown before, not even grandma, and that made me realise what a rare opportunity this is. We’re not likely to get extended time together like this again, or a time when we can reach out and help people around us in quite the same way. Life hasn’t stopped, it’s just changed and we can still be making the best use of the time we have.
4) Why is the gospel good news for your family at this time?
It’s been reassuring for all of us to know that, even though this feels very out of control and noone really knows what to expect in the future, God is in control. The Bible speaks of disasters and plagues as a wake-up call to realise everything is not fine, that we need God and that to ignore him is dangerous. We needed reminding of that, to be more aware of God in our everyday lives, to stress less and trust him more.
The Bible says” Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” (James 4:13-16)
I didn’t see this coming, but God did and however baffling and frustrating and distressing it is for us, even if the worst happens, he is still in control and is still with us. My plans might have been cancelled but God’s never can be. And ultimately his plan ends in an eternity with no more sickness and death for those who will accept the offer.
A big thank you to the Vinall family for taking part in this series!
Why don’t you take a few moments to pray for tbe Vinall family right now? Pray that God would sustain them as they care juggling caring for their children while working remotely from home. Pray for them as they seek to make the most of the opportunities that their new circumstances offer them.
Could you take part in this series?
We would love to feature as many families as possible in this series.
If you would like to take part, then please send you answers in an email or DM, to the following questions (it should only take 10 mins or so to answer them):
1) Describe your family and what your average day looks like now under lockdown. (Some parents are key workers, some parents are juggling working from home while providing childcare, others find themselves unexpectedly homeschooling – what is your situation?)
2) What challenges have you encountered?
3) What encouragements have you seen?
4) Why is the gospel good news for your family at this time?