Disappointed

The other day I was talking with my friend, Pipey T., and he was sharing with me how he and his family have been doing during Coronavid. He told me that each day during the past two weeks his two boys, who are about twelve and ten, had been rewarded with a precious period of "tech time" when they could play their favorite video games. They did it at the same time each day after they were done with their school work. One day this past week Pipey and his wife sat the boys down to play a little joke on them.

"Boys, today we are going to do a little something different," he explained. "Rather than do tech time, you guys are going to spend the next two hours outside picking up every piece of Ginger's poop in both the front and back yard. Does that sound ok with you?" The two boys reacted a little differently. His older son stared back at him with an "Awe, man! Seriously?!" look on his face. While his younger son immediately began crying desperately. Oh, the horror! Could there be worse disappointment for a young boy than having tech time traded for crap collection?! Although I laughed rather heartily, I told Pipey that he was a horrible father and that I would be calling Child Protective Services later that day.

I've thought about his story more than a few times over the past few days--not just because it was funny--but also because that same sense of disappointment is occurring in millions of homes across the country these days. There are likely tens of millions of kids and adults that have cried over the past few weeks in deep disappointment because of what the virus has taken from them.

In my own family our kids will be missing out on a class trip to Hotlanta, a special track season when two of them would have been running together on the same team, as well as a musical in which my youngest had a lead role, among other things. There are kids across the country who are missing out on their Senior year baseball or track seasons when they would have broken school records, or potentially earned unexpected athletic scholarships. Kids missing proms, graduations, competitions, and celebrations. People cancelling reunions, vacations and wedding receptions. Events and seasons and grand openings postponed or scratched completely.

And then there are those who are unable to see their loved ones as they are dying. Unable to hold their hands and comfort them as they struggle to breathe. Unable to hug their parents or siblings or friends as they weep in mourning. How sad and deep and supremely painful the loss and disappointment.

This world has so many trials and struggles waiting for us from the day we are born. Yes, there is good, yes there are celebrations, but none of it lasts unless it's of God. That's why we're told not to love the world or the things of the world, but to take heart because Jesus has overcome the world and all it's hardship and disappointment. He will never leave us or forsake us. Even in this lonely time of isolation, He is with us. In the midst of our pain, He is near. Even as loved ones pass away, He is there, caring for them and loving them more than we ever could.

And one day He will wipe away every tear. One day He will take away every sorrow. What a day that will be! So be encouraged in the midst of this uncertainty and affliction: whether it's as small as "tech time" or as big as death, "the sufferings of this present time aren't worthy to be compared to the glory that will be revealed in us" (Romans 8:18). Remember that. Repeat that to yourself over and over. Take heart. Trust in His goodness. And have hope in Him.