How lovely are your tents, O Jacob; your encampments, O Israel!
While we usually associate the term “shalom bayit,” peace in the home, with the relationship between a married couple, families come in all shapes and sizes. All of us, whether married, single, widowed or divorced, share in the undertaking to transform our home into a peaceful oasis where G-d can dwell. The home situation that we have at the moment is by Divine design, to bring G-d’s light into our particular spot of the universe.
Attaining true peace in the home can be a minefield. Home is the place where we want to kick back and be ourselves. Our family members are the ones closest to us, who know us most intimately, and thus there’s the potential for us to be hurt in the deepest ways. We can’t take a break from practicing kindness and sensitivity, even when we’re home and “off duty.”
We don’t choose our family members and sometimes need to learn to live with difficult people. Being mindful that G-d chose our family for us helps us find inner strength and fortitude to deal with the complex situations that may arise. This section will explore how to reduce conflict and have greater harmony in all our family relationships.