Joyful Homes aren’t perfect, but they assume the best.
Your brother posts something divisive on social media. A guy cuts you off in traffic. Your kid is whining. You can’t control anything about these frustrations, except the most important thing: how you respond. When we assume the best, especially of those in our own home, we invite so much joy into families—even if we’re wrong!
As a family, discuss:
- When is a time recently when someone annoyed or hurt you? What did you tell yourself their motive was?
- How can we see the situation from their point of view?
- What difference would it make if we assumed the best of each other and others all the time?
God looked at everything he had made and found it very good. Genesis 1:31
When we live in close quarters with other sinners, we constantly have a choice before us: we can focus on their sins and shortcomings, or we can focus on their strengths and virtues.
In the times when we are struggling to assume the best of our family, it can be helpful to remember that God sees our loved one as his beloved child, someone he sees as very good.
If we ask him, God will give us his eyes to see the goodness of our loved ones. A new perspective may not change the other’s behavior right away, but it will free us up to love well, and it will release more joy and compassion in our homes.
Ideas & Resources
Local blogger Chloe Langr reflects on assuming the best.
Advent Calendar for married couples from Living in Love.
Family prayer and date night resources from School of Love.
Free Advent resource for kids from Holy Heroes.