As lockdown continues to ease for many, was reflect on what a trial this has - and continues to be - for some. The apostle James, in his letter, speaks of trial and testing. We stagger at his words in James ch 1:2 where he says, “my brothers, count it all joy when you fall into various trials – knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience”.
Read moreOur prayer theme: It's all about the children
Over 10 weeks of lockdown. Although some of us may be going stir-crazy, and all of us will be delighted — if a little anxious — about some easing of the restrictions, we’re all aware of some opportunities that this time has given us. For one thing, it’s as if God has pressed the Pause button, so that our eyes have time to focus on the detail of the natural world around us.
And what a time to do it: Spring!
I don’t think I have ever before been so aware of the wonders of God’s creation, watching new life emerging, from the buds and blossoms of the trees and shrubs to the noisy activity of the birds busily pairing off and then parenting. I have watched a pair of blackbirds build a nest in the honeysuckle very close to my patio doors; I saw how patiently the female sat on the eggs and, once they hatched, I marvelled how hard both parents worked from dawn to dusk to feed the scrawny little chicks. I was amazed by their carefully-coordinated flying skills, as one parent flew on to the nest at the exact time the other was exiting.
Over a week since fledging, and they are still hard at work feeding the rapidly growing youngsters who are wisely hiding under the shrubs, as the red kite flies slowly and menacingly over the garden.
As a non-parent myself, I am in awe of the patience, dedication and commitment it takes to raise young ones — and I’m not just referring to the birds!
For parents in our church family this is surely a very testing time. With the whole family at home much of the time, it takes exceptional skills and commitment to balance employment, child-minding, home schooling, Sunday Schooling, household management and so much more. Nurturing those fledglings is very demanding.
Sadly, we know that not all children have loving and supportive parents. Not all homes are safe spaces in this lockdown. News reports have exposed the dangers that some children face in abusive relationships; the incidence of domestic violence has risen dramatically in recent weeks. Too often, the parents or other household members are the predators. Until schools are able to reopen fully, and social services can operate normally, there will be no escape for some youngsters. They need our prayers.
So we are combining two thoughts for our prayer theme for the month ahead. We thank God for the emerging new life and young life that we see all around us, in creation and also in our church. It is a wonderful blessing and it gives us hope for the future: God’s new life for us all. And we pray for all parents, that they will be given the wisdom, strength and support that they need to care for their children, raising them safely and — best of all — “in the nurture and admonition of the Lord”, so that they may grow to know, and to love, their Father in heaven.