Aren’t you thankful for Zoom, Skype, Whatsapp, Facebook Video, Facetime or any other video tool you might use to virtually connect with one another at this time? I know I sure am. Staying in touch during these days is vital for our mental and emotional health.
A few weeks ago my sister in law video called me so my 3 year old niece in the US could see me. At breakfast that morning she had burst into tears and said she was sad because she was afraid she might not see Gigi, Papa and Auntie Sarah again in person. (A very cute side note,,,whenever she talks about us we all come as a group of three! :-) What a precious moment. She had been able to explain her tears to her parents and even though we could not see each other in person I am so thankful for technology where we could see each other, share virtual hugs and kisses and laughter together and tell each other that we miss each other, love each other and are praying for each other.
Virtual hugs, might make me laugh, but they’re definitely not the same as a real hug. This week my heart sank as I heard that we may not be able to have physical touch until there is a vaccine. I am a hugger, so when I heard this I cried. The thought of not being able to embrace my family and dear friends for an unknown time is really tough to process. As I heard this news from a friends video she then went on to read from Philippians and share a great thing to do when we are missing each other!
Paul shares about thanking God and praying for those he missed while he was in prison.
Philippians 1:3-11 (CSB)
"I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Indeed, it is right for me to think this way about all of you, because I have you in my heart, and you are all partners with me in grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. For God is my witness, how deeply I miss all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. And I pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment, so that you may approve the things that are superior and may be pure and blameless in the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God."
Lockdown can feel like imprisonment sometimes! What if every time we feel sad, miss each other and long to hug someone we pray for one another? You may already do this! I loved my friend’s idea to take an empty jar or container and some small pieces of paper. On each piece of paper write the names of people we miss, who we’ve said we will pray for, those who we want to hug, those people that we deeply miss ‘with the affection of Christ’. Choose a couple each day and intentionally pray for those people. What a way to love and care for one another! May we be encouraged as we pray for each other and lift our eyes to God.
Dear ones, know that you are in my prayers. I want to leave you with this part of Philippians 1 again “For God is my witness, how deeply I miss all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. And I pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment, so that you may approve the things that are superior and may be pure and blameless in the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.”
