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Quarantine is the new normal! Everyone all over the world is in some sort of lockdown. It’s a much easier time for some than it is for others. If you are locked down at home with family- thank heavens! It is time to spend some quality time with all your peeps. If you are away from home or family, it is a slightly more challenging time. If you live alone, then it definitely isn’t an easy time (except if you are one of those that prefer to be alone, I am told they exist!). I was thinking of people that got stuck in other countries (#EddyKenzo), first time mums that are super anxious about this period and can’t really get the help they anticipated, or people that suffer from depression and anxiety and are currently being triggered everywhere they turn. A farmer shared on facebook how he was stuck with 400 chicken birds ready for sell and just needed ideas of how to handle the situation. Everyone has a COVID-19 story!

Since we have a bit more down time on our hands, I thought I would share a few thoughts. Our first response should be prayer. And I’m not talking to the prayer warrior that fasts three times a week and has a day off every week to spend time with God for the WHOLE day. I met someone recently who told me she takes off every Thursday to pray the whole day! I was super challenged but back to the ‘normal’ people I was talking to. We all know Philippians 4:6-7 that tells us to be anxious for NOTHING but by PRAYER and THANKSGIVING make our requests known to God and the PEACE of God which transcends all understanding will guard our hearts and minds. The immediate result of prayer is peace. If you are anxious, please pray. If you are worried, please pray. If you are concerned about how the government is handling this, please pray. Whatever it is, please pray.  Prayer doesn’t have to be complicated. It doesn’t have to be full of fire and rocking back and forth. It is also not a 5-minute monologue. It is a conversation with God. Try it. It also doesn’t really matter if you haven’t prayed in a while. God can’t wait to hear from you! I have found that prayer walks really do wonders for me and so if you are easily distracted like your gurl Primah, take a walk and speak to God. Start today and press replay tomorrow, you will be surprised what it can do for you. If you are with family, pray about what’s happening in the world. A prayer culture may be born out of this.

Please also reach out as much as you can. If you know a person that is away from home or that struggles with anxiety or that is struggling financially and may not have been able to bulk shop, please reach out. Take time to make that phone call and pray with those that need prayer. Send foodstuffs to those that need them. Let love be an actual doing word. You know that sibling/black sheep of the family that will probably use all the money you send them for a ‘drink’, please send them foodstuffs for the season. Please ensure that your live out maid that can no longer come because of this time is well taken care of. Remember to ask your neighbours (of-course from a distance) how they are handling, you just might be an answered prayer for them.

Let this time count. Remember all the one million things you shelved because you had no time? This is the time to do them. Read a book, start an exercise routine, write a bit more, cook, listen to those podcasts. Just let this time count. There are so many people sharing encouraging messages on Facebook and other social media platforms. Listen in and you will be encouraged. Just avoid spending your whole day watching series or scrolling through unnecessary social media. I actually now need to go and write a list of 3 things that I don’t usually have time for that I am going to start doing.

I have learnt a few things in my 3 weeks of quarantine and 1 of them is the need for a routine. Wake up at a ‘good’ time and sleep at a ‘good’ time as well. If you are working from home, work as though you were in the office. Please dress up, avoid spending the day in your PJs! This will help you mentally. I haven’t gotten to the place of putting on make-up at home but if things continue like this, I might get there complete with  ‘work clothes’ and a hand bag.

Keep happy, keep positive. Remember to pray, reach out and let this time count.