Chaplain

We seem to be settling into an extended lockdown and living in close quarters with our families. We love our children, parents and room-mates but extended close quarters can wear our patience thin. I have been reflecting on some of the responses of my students and my own situation about how to thrive as mini-communities in our homes.

My dear mother came down from Queensland for a short visit the first week of the school holidays and so I find myself with an unexpected house buddy in my apartment. This has come with delight as I have quality time with my Mum and I am not alone! But it also means we have to work out how to live in our limited space. We are both accustomed to living independently. As I reflect, I am really thankful for this time. I get to share life with her and discover lots about her as she reminiscences about her past. This is and will be a precious gift.

I think this is one of our great opportunities of lockdown: quality time with our families. Of course, there are the demands of home schooling but this gives us an insight to their study world. There are the opportunities to have earnest discussions and light hearted laughs that will help us appreciate our loved ones even better. So may I encourage you to eat together, turn off devices and ask question and listen. Have a topic of the day, or highlights and low lights to encourage sharing. There is also my personal favourite: enforced family fun. Take an evening to play board games together.

Another area that may be an opportunity is to attend an online church together: this will give you a focus for an hour with your family, with music and an introduction to church community: St Peter Cremorne have services at 9 am on Sunday. You can attend virtually by visiting stpeterscremorne.org.au St Augustine has one at 10.00am at neutralbay.church

However, it is not all rosy and this is where I have been thinking about the proverb “a Kind word cheers the Heart up” (Proverbs 12:25 b). While our hearts are often full of love for our families, the irritants of the day often mean it is the short and sharp that slips out of our lips. This week breath deep and actively look for ways to say out-loud kind words: an appreciation, a declaration of love, praise for little things, checking in “Are you ok: do you want to talk?”. Our words have power to heal or to destroy, to lift up or bind down. Let your home be filled with kind words, especially at this time.

A reminder that the Parent’s prayer group meets on the night of Thursday 5 August. If you are interested in praying for the school community, please contact Sally Swan at swanlsally@gmail.com

May your homes and families be blessed with the peace of God’s love.

Ms Bronwyn Lihou
Senior Campus Chaplain
blihou@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9909 3133

Ms Fiona McKenzie
Junior Campus Chaplain
fmckenzie@redlands.nsw.edu.au
9953 6022