2. A Selfish Endeavor - creating a peaceful home
For a period, nearly every night we endured hours of crying and yelling during our bedtime routine. In the end, when my head finally hit the pillow, I was left exhausted and disappointed. The house was finally quiet, I got what I wanted. Why was I so dissatisfied? Everyone was fed, in bed, and alive to live another day. I finally got the “quiet” but it was the peace that I coveted. That was the goal but what was the purpose?
Ah! Life's greatest mystery.
Did you ever wear one of those WWJD bracelets?
It was like a badge of honor back in the day.
The bracelet was supposed to be a reminder of "The Golden Rule" but like, Supersized. Right?
The idea was to love people like God loves people.
One evening my husband shared a spinet of his favorite podcast that really resonated. Bryan Ward said something to the effect of:
- If your actions do not align to your soul's purpose then you can not know peace-
[My own rendition could not hope to do him justice.] If you don't know about @ThirdWayMan on IG, this man is a true modern poet. 🙌 Highly recommend the blog for Dads.
I know I'm not the only one who puts on a brave face in public. But that fraudulent facade was eating away at my soul daily. The hellion I was behind closed doors felt far more real. I frequently echoed the threats and punishments of my parents, all the while, I vividly remember being the tiny person behind the painful eyes I saw in my children.
"Physical size does not change your God-Given worth"
-Rev David Parks
My parents were not cruel. They did their best, as we now do ours. While our young kids are not privy to our internal struggles they do still witness the fallout. They observe us in all of these moments that become their worldview. Mom and Dad are their everything. When you become a parent, you have to learn to leave your baggage at the door and choose every moment to give them something, and someone to be proud of.
The Mother is the heartbeat of the family. You are the life-giver and you are the #Peacebringer.
This week do two things EVERY day:
Use intentionally gentle physical contact in a trying moment
Tell them you appreciate their effort in a small way
You are on the verge of greatness, My Dear.
Welcome to the RnR Family.
Published February, 2022 / revised January, 2026
