In marriage, in your children, in society and in your soul. It’s worth protecting. “Blessed are the peacemakers…”

Protecting peace means different things in different seasons. As I’m getting older, I’m finding it’s worth it to protect peace for myself even if it means other things fall apart or other people fall away. You cannot go looking for pain, suffering and division. You cannot create chaos and expect the fruit of peace. Unfortunately suffering will come looking for you at one point or another if you live and breathe on this planet. It’ll come looking for you even when you are doing most things right. The enemy of our souls will come when you are at your weakest and come when you’d least expect it. Anything that is urgent, anxious and doesn’t allow time for processing and prayer – is usually not the right way to go and is likely coming to steal your treasures. Healing is a process. Grief is a process. Growth is a process.

In marriage, their peace may be more important than yours and your growth more necessary. It flips around in different seasons. Peace means holding the space and tolerating with soul strength those moments when your flaws are on full display and handling theirs gracefully. Be a safe person. Be a shelter for those you love. If the milk spills, so be it. If someone gets sick, so be it. If the pipe breaks, so be it. If the bill doesn’t get paid, so be it.

You cannot (I cannot) hold it all together. Love, it’s gonna break sometimes. Your grip is gonna slip. Things are going to happen. You are going to encounter danger and some people will wound you – until the days you die. Just don’t let it lie to you and tell you that the Lover of your soul isn’t trustworthy. It’s them, not Him. You are also made for this! It happened because you were destined to walk through it.

Protecting peace also means not answering every call sometimes and allowing certain friends to drift away when you no longer see things the same. It’s ok. You can still love them, but you don’t need to do life with those who take peace from you without thinking or are unwilling to to sit in the discomfort of tension to get over to the place of reconciliation. They may grow and God may bring them back later. Just not right now. Let them think what they want. They’re going to anyway. Some legitimately do not want peace. “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.”
‭‭(Romans‬ ‭12‬:‭18‬) Not all want peace! There are actually necessary endings. Protecting your peace means not over explaining yourself and draining your breath to prove you aren’t trying to be hurtful, just trying to raise your kiddos or have boundaries so you’ll be able to finish the race strong. Where are all my warrior mamas at?

Peace is ordering take out, buying paper plates, paying someone to mow the lawn or walking outside no matter the weather to just hear your own footsteps. It’s leaving the dishes in the sink, taking a long shower or, in my case, eating a box of goldfish in the parking lot after grocery shopping. It means accepting that you don’t need to know everything going on in the world just to make it better. You can cover a lot in prayer and change a lot by loving your little tribe and those in your circle that have been put there or that you feel led to serve.

Peace means moving your body so your mind can function but accepting you aren’t the same as you used to be. For now. You can work hard and get there, but it may be a different route this time.

It means different things at different times. Just keep rolling the dice, keep taking chances. Keep putting your heart out there! Keep your heart soft. Most of all guard it against turning to stone. ❤️❤️ Even then, I’m thankful I’ve experienced the God who can turn stone into a heart of flesh.

(Jan 17, 2022)