{"id":4556,"date":"2016-12-08T00:02:32","date_gmt":"2016-12-08T07:02:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.mops.org\/?p=4556"},"modified":"2016-12-08T00:02:32","modified_gmt":"2016-12-08T07:02:32","slug":"wholeness-in-parts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.themom.co\/fr\/wholeness-in-parts\/","title":{"rendered":"Wholeness, in Parts"},"content":{"rendered":"

I texted a group of mom friends this question: During the crazy holiday season, how do you create peace and wholeness \u2013 shalom \u2013 for your family?<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

One mom responded that she needed some time to think about it and would get back to me; another sent a series of emojis: a wine glass, a champagne bottle and an umbrella drink. (Yes, sometimes getting through the holidays includes a little spike in one\u2019s eggnog.)\u00a0 Overwhelmingly, though, the thread was initially met with silence \u2013 \u201cSilent Night\u201d silence.<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t blame them. To be totally transparent, I reached out to my mom-squad because I didn\u2019t have a great answer myself.<\/p>\n

I stared at that empty text thread for a while and thought about my favorite Christmas song, \u201cHave Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.\u201d I love the idea that at the holidays our hearts can be light, our days can be golden. But for many, Yuletide doesn\u2019t mean our troubles are out of sight. The Christmas circus actually carries conflict closer to home.<\/p>\n

And while I\u2019ve never believed shalom <\/em>means conflict or chaos free \u2013 at least on this side of heaven \u2013 I do <\/em>think it means that we strive for unity, for reconciliation, for peace, for understanding and love in the midst of pain. It means we proactively live for beauty in brokenness.<\/p>\n

So that brings me back to the question looming on my text thread: How do we actually make room for peace and wholeness in the midst of very real stress, pain and loss? How do we teach that to our children?<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

At last, the text-silence was shattered as responses began to pour in:<\/p>\n

One mom wrote that she schedules several \u201cappointments\u201d during the holidays for reflective family readings by the fireplace. \u201cIt warms our bodies and souls,\u201d she texted. \u201cIt slows down my three little busy-bodies and keeps us together as a family.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another said that peace for her family means having financial peace of mind. Each January she sets aside $25 to $30 a month for holiday gifts. When December rolls around, she isn\u2019t strapped for cash.<\/p>\n

A third mom added, \u201cRoutine anchors us. No matter what else is going on during the holidays, we have dinner as a family. These aren\u2019t always peaceful \u2013 I mean, I have two toddlers. But it\u2019s something stable, something we count on. Gathering around the table, being together; this is what matters most.\u201d<\/p>\n

From there, the messages continued:<\/p>\n