Listen to our Sunday talks at our Unity Center for Inspired Living at inspiredlivingcenter.org
“If there is to be peace in the world,
There must be peace in the nations.
If there is to be peace in the nations,
There must be peace in the cities.
If there is to be peace in the cities,
There must be peace between neighbors.
If there is to be peace between neighbors,
There must be peace in the home.
If there is to be peace in the home,
There must be peace in the heart.”
― Lao Tzu
To create peace and harmony in our home, we must have peace in our hearts.
When we have inner conflict or feel chaos inside our minds, we unconsciously create it in our families.
When we have resolved our guilt, blame, doubt and separation from God, we know inner peace.
When we return to our natural state of innocence, love, gratitude and joy, we experience inner harmony.
Families today have neglected silence and homes are filled with constant noise.
Families often share no meals together and grab whatever food is readily available .
Families rarely live with extended family support and have little tolerance or respect for elders.
Families usually are busy with work and school, chores, social and sports events and watch TV to relax.
Families rarely have consistent daily schedules and usually each person has their own timing.
Families often have forgotten basic etiquette of “please” and “thank you” and keeping agreements.
Families often dump their worst language, manners and behavior on their own family members.
Families usually are too tired or angry or busy to give quality time to each other or to play together.
Families seem to neglect the children because they are busy or give them no privacy because of fear.
Families seem to argue, make demands and threaten one another rather than support and cooperate.
Families often do their own thing individually and have few events or projects collectively.
The family unit is no longer for survival of the whole, but rather a place in which people feel stuck.
Instead of support, there is sacrifice.
Instead of love, there is fear.
Instead of acceptance, there is criticism.
Instead of appreciation, there are put downs.
Instead of kindness, there is rudeness.
Instead of education, there is ignorance.
Instead of helpfulness, there is selfishness.
Instead of peace, there is fighting.
Instead of willingness, there is laziness.
May families learn to thrive with joy, not hide in fear.
What happened to our family system?
Some still are working.? Thank Goodness!
Many old country families still maintain family respect, responsibility and cooperation.
Some of the stricter parents and those who hold high standards for their children do work together.
The times have changed.
Money is tight.
Both parents often work.
Everyone watches TV or is chatting on computer.
Adults often swear and fight.
People talk on the phone, text or email rather than have conversations with their family members.
Poor manners, poor dress, poor diets, poor lifestyle, poor role models, negative resources are common.
Children learn from what they see and hear and the next generation passes it on.
We can change it all by changing our minds and living, loving and giving consciously to those around us.
Let us choose to set new standards, new examples and treat everyone with the respect they deserve.
Be trustworthy and keep you agreements.
Forgive yourself and choose again when you make mistakes in your thinking, speech and behavior.
Loving us all in making the world a better place.
Betty Lue
Do It Anyway
People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered.
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies.
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you.
Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy it all overnight.
Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous.
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow.
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough.
Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God.
It was never between you and them anyway.