How to have Peaceful homes during busy seasons

Having peaceful homes during busy seasons is HARD. The school season began and with it our schedules were taken. Almost every day is filled with places we need to be, things we need to do, and daily tasks that need to be done. In these busy seasons it is very easy for me to forget to put the first things first. I get so wrapped up in checking off my list and praying I don’t forget something (especially school or church events and things) that I just forget what I’m here for. When I start losing my peace quickly and anger bubbles over, I realize that I’ve put God on the bench. Again.

Why I continue to do this after all these years of knowing Jesus, I will never understand. However, I do know that we are never alone. We have the Holy Spirit to help us and guide us throughout our days. He can help us reshape our minds and attitudes about what God has laid before us. And He always reminds me in one way or another that I’m not putting first things first.

Prepare room for The Holy Spirit

handwritten letter P cut from the word peace

It took several weeks of the busy, stressed out morning routines, tons of prayers, and several ‘therapy’ sessions with my family, friends, and husband to realize that I was completely missing the mark. The Holy Spirit gently nudged me one morning when I was driving to school with white knuckles and steam still coming out of my ears (why do my kids hear ‘draw pretty pictures, play with your trains, and find a princess dress to wear’ when I say ‘its time to put shoes and coats on’?!?!?!?). He simply reminded me of a passage in the Bible that says to talk with our kids about God in the coming and going. That’s what popped in my head. I didn’t quite understand it then, but it calmed me enough to start praying on it. This made room for the Holy Spirit to convict me and change my heart.

When I looked up the verses this is what God says:

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise." 

Deuteronomy 6: 5-7

Enlightenment of What God has taught me

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What He has been teaching me is not that my life right now isn’t busy or if I did this or that then I wouldn’t be so stressed. He hasn’t taught me how to manage my time better or shown me THE magical planner that will solve all my problems (I’ve looked though trust me!). Instead, He’s shown me how important it is to show my kids grace, love, and kindness even in the stress. He’s shown me that it’s actually more important to do this when things are crazy because it shows them the hands and feet of Jesus. Instead of screaming at my kids when we’re running late, someone has decided this is the time to go poop, I’ve lost my keys AND my phone, and water is spilling all over the place because someones bottle wasn’t screwed on right, I can choose to keep my peace and show my kids what really matters. Love the Lord with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

Assignment to grow closer to god to have a peaceful home

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God uses these crazy moments to speak into the souls of our children. He can do it with or without us, but I’d rather do my part. God’s given me these beautiful kiddos and has assigned me a task to raise them right. To teach them God’s word, to love Jesus, to tell others about Jesus. There’s no better time to do this then to show them grace and love when the world says they don’t deserve it. What’s more Jesus than that? Jesus has shown me grace, so I show my kids grace. Added bonus, He uses these moments to sharpen us as well. Every time I keep my peace and show love when all I want to do is scream and throw things, I grow closer to God. The more I grow closer to God, the easier it is to keep my peace and have a peaceful home.

Choose to keep the peace

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To keep this beautiful cycle of change, we need to continue growing in Christ. We need to choose to read His word daily. To pray and talk with God all throughout our sometimes crazy days. Memorize or post Bible verses around our home/office that keep our minds focused on the right things. God knows us and knows our schedules. He will meet us where we are.

When we prioritize first things first, wisdom rules over us. When I spend time with God it changes how I look at things. It restores peace and joy in my soul and by extension into my home. This allows us to have peaceful homes during busy seasons. I’ve learned that God uses busy seasons to transform us giving power to shape our kids into peace keepers and kids who love Jesus. I know I will inevitably screw up. But Jesus. He will always bring us back to Him if we let Him.

End condemnation, do not feel guilty!

We do not need to feel guilty or condemned when we do screw up. We say sorry, repent, and move on. God never gives up on us. Spending time with God brings real power to change us and I believe it will. With God we can have peaceful homes during busy seasons.