As we take each day in stride during this time of social distancing, it’s surprising to look back on what life used to look like before this pandemic affected us. Ashleigh and I both can remember how busy we were, doing busy things and how life just seemed to happen around us. But now, with not getting to work full time and having most of my time being spent at home, it has been a major shift in “reality”, and it has caused friction in our home. I personally find myself seeking out tasks to do to keep my mind busy. I have this need to find things to do with my hands to occupy the empty time of my days. Our whole house has had to adapt to this new reality, finding new strategies for getting along, for getting through, and moving forward with God’s perspective in mind. 

Ashleigh and I spend most mornings discussing what the day will hold for us, so we can be on the same page. We talk about what we can accomplish together, what she needs to do, and how I can help her, all over a cup of coffee. This has made a huge difference in how our day goes, especially raising a Three-year-old and a 3-month-old. We spend a little bit of time each morning determining what can we get done around the kid’s schedules, nap times and free times. Before the pandemic, we weren’t always this intentional with our communications regarding the home and It’s been nice to have our time be spent so intentionally now.

Now we get to work as a team in a new capacity, to achieve everything we set out to accomplish for the day within our home. For example, Ashleigh and I do the cleaning that we have agreed on, we give each other time and space to get our own work done whether it’s the homework she has to do for her MBA program or the administrative tasks I need to do to keep my small business running. We also take turns watching the kids so that we can have a small amount of down time to ourselves, and we do it all with the confidence that we are a team. We are making sure that we are watching out for and serving each other, so that this time of so much uncertainty doesn’t bring in a wave of depression or anxiety over us. 

We don’t always experience good days. There are days that are filled with us being worn out, exhausted and quite frustrated with how things go during the day. Sometimes, Ashleigh and I find ourselves bickering with each other and not really wanting to “play nice.” When days like this happen, the Holy Spirit reminds us that we are not fighting each other. We are back to back fighting the enemy, the flesh, and the world as one. He reminds us that we have the privilege of raising His children and that we are representatives of Jesus in all that we do. Some days are particularly hard. But to the Glory of God, we pray together as we go and talk through conflicts at the end of the day. We try to go to bed with peace and a newfound resilience to continue the process together the next day.

Since we cannot even begin to know what your daily experiences are like, Ashleigh and I want to ask how you have been? How is your daily scripture reading going? How are you handling the stress of this pandemic in your home? Are you working to Glorify God by being intentional with your communication in your home or are you just getting by? We are asking these questions because we want you to be encouraged in knowing you have brothers and sisters who are striving each day to do God’s will, just like you are. We want you to know that God values progress, not perfection. 

Ashleigh and I love being able to share our struggles and ups and downs with you, it helps us stay accountable to each other. That is where we find ourselves experiencing the fellowship aspect of Shalom in our marriage. If you feel encouraged or want to share how things have been going for you and your family, please share in the comments below or feel free to email us so that we can all carry each other’s burdens and be lifted up when we pray for one another. 

With that being said, below are some scriptures for you to meditate on and be encouraged by this week:

  • Proverbs 27:17 (NIV) “As Iron sharpens iron, so does one person sharpen another.”
  • Ephesians 6: 11-12 (NIV) “Put on all the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
  • Galatians 6:9-10 (NIV) “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have the opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”

Ashleigh Greene

Women’s Director / Admin@thewordfresno.org