One Simple Thing Families Can Do to Restore Unity in America

There’s so much talk in the news right now about how we can unite as a country at a time when we’re more divided than ever. Often, we turn to policy to answer this question. But it’s so much bigger than that.

And while the problem is big, I believe it’s actually the little things that we do in our own families that will ultimately lead to the change that will result in the unity of our country.

You have to change culture before you can change policy.

There is one thing at the very top of the list that I want to draw attention to. I firmly believe that if American families committed to doing this one thing, it would significantly aid in bringing peace to the weary soul of our nation.

We are living in a time where hustle is glorified. Where distractions are endless. Somewhere between the time I was growing up to now, as I raise my children, we have become a society that is always trying to keep up.

Maybe it’s the rise of convenience: cell phones, online shopping, apps, ohhhh the apps! — all designed to make our lives easier, but have become tools that have created a false sense of urgency.

How many times have you picked up your phone to make an appointment only to get distracted by a little red notification on your child’s sports app? If you’re like me, you feel that urgency to check to make sure you haven’t missed something. You check the app only to find that it’s the parent group chat discussing the next team meal, which reminds you that you need to contribute.

So you sign up and add a few things to your shopping list. Done. You put your phone down, totally forgetting about why you picked it up in the first place — to make that appointment.

Or how about online shopping and next-day delivery? Don’t get me wrong, it’s saved me more times than I care to admit. However, I have eyes to see how it’s led me to have a real materialistic outlook, too. How many times have I decided that I needed a new dress before that event coming up in a few days, even though I have five perfectly good dresses that I’ve only worn once before?

Text messages, emails, app notifications, and alerts have all inadvertently caused us to become tethered to our phones. This reality of feeling like we must always be available leads to a feeling of pressure to keep up.

Online shopping and next-day delivery have contributed to an increase in materialism and the need for instant gratification.

And then there’s the 24/7 news cycle, YouTube, YouTube shorts, Facebook Reels, and the list goes on. There is no “off” button. Of course, one could argue that it’s up to us to use some self-control. I wholeheartedly agree. And many of us do.

But now more than ever, we’re consuming sound bytes, reels, and shorts that never end. Anyone can post anything. And often, the content I’m seeing is mindless and pointless.

We need to replace reels and shorts with a desire to study, learn, and grow.

We need to replace a culture of hustle with a culture of curiosity.

Replace distraction with purpose.

Replace instant gratification with patience.

Replace pressure with peace.

So how do we do that?

I believe we do it by prioritizing rest in our own families.

We are uniquely designed for rest. Our God made us for rest. God Himself rested, and commands us to do the same.

And even more importantly, he made rest holy (Genesis 2:2–3).

We see many times throughout scripture where Jesus goes away to a private place and rests. In one of my favorite passages, Mark 4:36–41, Jesus departs (with his disciples) from the crowds to rest. Then he performs one of his greatest miracles upon waking up.

In Mark 6:31, Jesus sees that his disciples are weary and encourages them to follow his example and make time to relax and rest.

Maybe you’re wondering how to make rest a priority.

It’s not so much how you do it as your reason behind it. The kind of rest I’m speaking about is the kind that brings you real peace. A pause in your daily grind to refocus your heart, mind, and soul.

God commands rest because rest is good and He only commands that which is good for us.

So, when you are thinking about ways to prioritize rest in your family and in your home, make sure that it’s the kind of rest that makes way for His presence, which will naturally bring you the peace that only He can provide.

I think what you’ll find is that you’ll respond rather than react.

You’ll notice more — the beauty around you, the blessings, the areas in your life that may need attention, or the people in your life who may need more of you.

You will feel gratitude. And you’ll know Who to thank because you’ll know where it came from.

What does that look like for your family? Comment below and tell me how you incorporate rest in your home!

What Is Grace, Anyway?

Let’s break it down!

To answer this question, we first need to understand that, according to Catholic Tradition and teaching, there are two types of grace: Sanctifying Grace and Actual Grace.

Let’s begin with Sanctifying Grace since that one technically happens first.

To sanctify means to be made holy. And the word grace is defined as the free and undeserved gift from God.

I once had a dear Protestant friend tell me that she had never seen an infant baptism and asked me what it was like. At the time, I didn’t know how to answer her — I thought all babies were baptized.

However, I now understand that the primary difference between the Catholic understanding of Baptism and the Protestant understanding lies in the supernatural change that occurs during the sacrament.

All human beings are born in the image and likeness of God, but because of the Fall (Adam and Eve in the Garden, the apple … you may be familiar with the story), we are born with original sin.

This sin is not of our doing, but is actually Adam and Eve’s fault! Because they are our ancestors, we are born with sin.

And this is exactly why Catholics baptize infants! During the sacrament of Baptism, sin is literally wiped away. Further, the infant is infused with Sanctifying Grace.

This supernatural transformation of the infant’s soul makes him or her a child of God, which will then provide him or her with the foundation to receive Actual Grace as he grows in age and wisdom.

Which leads us to the second type of grace that occurs in a child of God, or a Baptized person — Actual Grace.

Have you ever felt that nudge to push you to do something outside your comfort zone to benefit someone else?

Maybe you’re in a hurry and notice a little elderly woman struggling to put groceries in her car. Though it may make you late, you decide to stop to help the woman. Something inside of you urges you to put your own needs aside and put those of someone else first.

Maybe you’re drinking your coffee in the morning, and instead of scrolling Facebook, you feel a strong desire to say a prayer for someone in need.

These are examples of God’s grace working inside of you — also known as Actual Grace. It comes from outside of you (God) and causes you to act in a way that is pleasing to Him.

Sources

https://www.catholic.com/tract/grace-what-it-is-and-what-it-does