Our Easter Sunday celebration was certainly different this year for most. Many of us missed getting together with our families and church families. We were still able to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus with online services and services broadcast on television. But for many of us, the day just felt incomplete.

A very important part was missing - being in the presence of our families. We still made our Easter dinners, and those with children were able to have their Easter baskets and egg hunts. But we missed the connection of extended family joining us for worship and fellowship, our meals and family togetherness.

God created us for relationship. The cross speaks of vertical relationship with God and horizontal relationship with one another. Many who are isolating alone or with a limited number of immediate family are feeling the effect of the lack of horizontal relationship. Hopefully we are getting through it by strengthening our vertical relationship with God.

One thing that is evident during this pandemic is that many who took their families for granted, or maybe considered it their duty to visit or spend time with them, are rethinking that. As the time grows that we must be apart, there is a growing longing for our families.

Of course that is not the case for all. We pray for children living in abusive families, whose only safe place was going to school, and now must face daily horror. We pray for the growing number of domestic violence cases being reported. Our hearts go out to all those who are grieving the loss of their loved ones during this time.

But there is also a growing awareness of how much our families really do mean to us. On warmer days we've been able to see our children and grandchildren outside our homes to spend a few minutes chatting face to face. But we can only give air hugs for now to keep the six feet of distance between us.

This is a time when God “will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents” (Malachi 4:6). For parents who are now at home with their children and attempting to homeschool, they are being encouraged to not worry as much about the school part, but to learn to enjoy their children again. Give them experiences that can only be given at home by loving parents. They will have enough time to catch up on any school work they missed, but they may never have another opportunity for the undivided attention of their parents again.

These are unprecedented times that we did not choose, but as in any time of trial or hardship, there is much to be learned. So let's not waste this time, but learn important lessons from it. Let's get our priorities straight and learn to really appreciate our families and the importance of family interaction and togetherness. Let's make more room and time in our lives for these relationships that are a gift from God.

Hope Ministries is a Christian counseling center, and we are here to help. If you would like to speak confidentially with someone, give us a call at 482-5300.