Pardon me while I stare at my television for several days in a row.

That’s more or less been the reality of millions of Americans for weeks now. Whether it’s wall-to-wall news coverage of the virus, or of politics, or Netflix or Hulu or YouTube or video games or whatever. It has been, if we are being honest, the thing that gotten us through much of the difficult days over the last month. The weather has been back and forth, and so many of us are stuck inside, staring at television screens.

But this week, at least for me, it’s been different. Between the Michael Jordan documentary that starting airing last Sunday and the NFL draft coming up this weekend, it FINALLY feels like a normal week for me. And you better believe I’m going to be consuming every second of it because this sports-starved man NEEDS this in my life.

And if we’re taking inventory of the big picture, there is certainly cause for optimism as it seems some things might be slowly returning to normal sooner rather than later. The stay-at-home orders are largely working. And while we may still be a ways off of completely resuming normal activity, there seems to be light at the end of the tunnel.

But something that has occurred to me during the shutdown. I have wrestled with my three boys more in the last 6 weeks than in the previous 6 months combined. A lot more tickling, a lot more laughing, a lot more reading, a lot more Lego building, Hot Wheels car driving, baseball playing, walk taking, fish catching, ice cream eating, and fun having, too. More than that, I’ve had more meaningful conversations with my wife. More quality time, more engagement, and more connection.

For the sake of humanity, I want this virus to go away. I want things to return to normal. I want people to get their jobs back. I want people to go on vacation and see movies and eat in restaurants. And GOD KNOWS I want there to be sports again. But when it does eventually get back to normal…I hope I don’t forget about the things that really matter.

I hope I still play with my kids as often as possible. I hope I still connect with my wife every day. I hope I don’t lose sight of the mission field God has laid before me—my family. This 6 weeks has been a blessing in ways I never would have seen as possible. I pray that God continues to show me that.

Normal is coming back. But take advantage of the temporary normal God has given you.

“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” -Colossians 3:15

-Matt