When life becomes difficult, we can lack peace in our hearts. This causes our immediate relationships, including our relationships with our children, to be affected. During difficult times we may feel miserable and less at peace. Sometimes our actions may give our children mixed messages. They may begin to internalize the tension and react rebelliously in stressful situations. Everyone becomes tense when life gets hard. 

Matthew 15:18 (NIV) says “But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart.” Think about what’s in your heart. Ask God for peace, one of the fruits of the spirit, to enter your heart and trust that he will provide. God has this amazing power to give gifts through people. As you embrace the gift of peace, your actions reflect that. This gift will then trickle down into the hearts of your children. They will experience God’s peace through your actions.

Take a moment during the day to do activities with your family that will help you de-stress. Take a walk around your neighborhood. Take your children to the park and play with them. Give your child a hug. Teach your children a fun old game, the silence game, where no one talks or makes noise for a few minutes. You all sit at the dinner table or in the living room and relax. During the silence you smile at each other. Close your eyes and relax. At the end of the silence thank God through a short prayer for the peace and tranquility in your home.