How An Agent Is Leading His Family During COVID-19

This difficult time is a unique opportunity to strengthen your family’s faith

COVID-19 has turned our normal routines inside-out — or perhaps it’s more fitting to say outside-in.

During this time, we are forced to give up many of the things we enjoy, like movie theaters, concerts or restaurants. But this time away from those things allows us to take a step back and think about what is most important.

God’s grace brings good out of even the most tragic situations. This time of pandemic has personally given my family an opportunity to engage more deeply with each other and more deeply in our prayer.

Evenings that would have been spent going to sports practices or games are now open for family dinners and talks on the porch. Questions that would have been ignored because we were all “too busy” are now being discussed.

At the same time, some problems can arise during this time, such as:

1. A loss of discipline and routine
2. Financial hardships
3. Lack of patience with others
4. Obsession with the internet or other addictions
5. A loss of perspective about the importance of practicing our faith

And that’s just to name a few.

Brothers, we are being presented with a huge opportunity. Here are some ways we can be better fathers and husbands during this time:

1. Be a patient, comforting presence for our families
2. Have a solid prayer life and teach our children to have one
3. Teach our children by example how to endure uncertainty and hardship by trusting in God’s providence.
4. Spend time with our children, and thus become a stronger formator for our children who are often otherwise formed by outside influences
5. Use our extra time to study scripture and the messages of the Blessed Mother
6. Continue our education alongside own homeschooling children

You may be thinking, “This all sounds great, but what are some concrete things I can do to put my faith into action?” Here are some starting points:

1. Pray the rosary as a family every day.
2. Stream the mass in your living room.
3. Pray an Act of Spiritual Communion.
4. Set up a dedicated place of prayer in your home to be like a small chapel.
5. Use candles during family prayer time or while watching mass on TV.
6. Show reverence for the mass by dressing up for it as though you were there in person.
7. Call extended family members, friends, and neighbor to check in on them.
8. Lead your family in a Bible study on the day’s readings.
9. Complete a fun project together as a family, such as a family garden.
10. Watch wholesome movies together on weeknights, and watch movies based on the Scriptures on Sundays.

As Catholic men, as Knights, we are entrusted with the protection of homes, of our families. It is important to protect our families. The consequences of shirking our family responsibilities can be dire. Satan wishes that we do nothing.

Those of us who are fathers have a duty to protect our children — right now. During this challenging time, we can help them to avoid destructive patterns of despair that they can fall into when they face further challenges in life. I believe one way we can help is by making this time one of the happiest in their lives, a time when they draw close to us and to their Heavenly Father.

This could be one of the most awful times ever for you and your family. But it may be the biggest opportunity that you will ever have to teach your children to be joyful in all things. And it’s because of your faith as a loyal subject of the King of Kings, as a Knight of Columbus.

Share your story of how your council is helping strengthen people’s faith and offering support during this time. Email knightline@kofc.org.

Originally published in a special bi-weekly edition of Knightline, a resource for K of C leaders and members. To access Knightline’s monthly archives, click here.