Peace: Family, Friends and EnemiesExemplo

I felt led to write this for all of you who (including myself) struggle to maintain peace during the holidays.

Especially as it pertains to “acting” like you enjoy hanging out with family, friends, and enemies.

Family encounters can be emotionally charged. You may have to endure someone like “Uncle Frank” from the film Home Alone who constantly berates, insults, and bullies you.

Maybe your family gatherings are more like the film Christmas Vacation where Uncle Eddy shows up and is completely unaware of any of his behaviors.

The point I want to make is that it doesn’t have to be or feel hard this year.

Instead of seeing all of these family gatherings as annoying, fake, stressful, or whatever word you choose to use, I want to share with you 10 ways to create peace.

I want to remind you of the words of St. Francis of Assissi in his beautiful prayer when he says, “become an instrument of peace.”

The #1 thing you must do to create peace in these stressful, and emotionally charged family situations is to identify what you want to be and feel like. Then, write it down.

You must develop a deep desire for what you want rather than holding onto those thoughts of what you don’t want.

The scriptures call this faith.

This is what Hebrews 11:1 says, 'Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses]. '

Imagine becoming an instrument of peace when you are with your family members.

Imagine exactly what you want to feel like during this holiday season.

Hold that picture and feeling of what you want to feel like instead of holding onto the picture and feeling of what you don’t want to feel like.

What you think about, is what you become. What you think about expands.

Write down what you want to feel like, talk like and act like during this holiday season.

The #2 thing you must intend to do with your family, friends, and enemies during the holidays is to love them as you would love yourself.

I didn’t say this would be easy; I did say it would be transformative and bring you closer to your highest self.

Mark 12:31 says, “love your neighbor as you love yourself.”

Matthew 5:44 says, “love your enemies.”

Think about how you would like to be treated when you attend holiday parties. Isn’t it nice when someone comes up to you smiling, and devoting their attention to you?

Their friendliness draws you out and makes you feel special. You get that feeling inside when someone is genuinely interested in you. It’s like a drug. It’s addictive. It’s exhilarating.

What if you began to feel that for your family members, friends, or even your enemies?

Can you imagine how empowered you would feel?

Can you think of what these transformative ideas would do?

What would living out the scriptures feel like for you?

What if a miracle happened with a family member?

What if just by loving others, you created a breakthrough for someone else?

What if you became an instrument of peace?

Peace with your family, friends, and enemies is possible. Remember the following:

• Believe it’s possible.
• Get a clear picture of what peace will feel like.
• Write down what peace will be like and feel like.
• Love your neighbor.

I’m rooting for you and praying with you.

God bless,

Coach Anthony Thompson