Dec 17, 2021 filed under Living Virtue.

mother daughter peace at Christmas

It’s easy to forget that love begins at home—so I’m happy to pass along this Christmas message, attributed to Saint Teresa of Calcutta, that reminds us how important it is to cultivate peace and forgiveness among those we’re closest to. Prayers for a blessed and peaceful Christmas!
❤️ Rose

“We must make our homes centers of compassion and forgiveness, and so bring peace.

“Make your house, your family, another Nazareth, where love, peace, joy, and unity reign, for love begins at home. You must start there and make your home a center of love. You must be the hope of eternal happiness to your wife, your husband, your child, to your grandfather, your grandmother, to whoever is connected to you.

“The home is where the mother is. Once I found a child on the streets. I took him to our children’s home and gave him a bath and some clean clothes, but he ran away. He was found again by somebody else, but he ran away a second time. After we found him, I said to the sisters, ‘Please follow that child and see where he goes when he runs away.’

“When the child ran away a third time they followed him, and there, under a tree, was his mother. She had put stones under a small earthenware vessel and was cooking some food she had found. The sister asked the child, ‘Why did you run away from the home?’ And the child answered, ‘But this is my home because this is where my mother is.’

“That was home. The food that was found was all right because Mother had cooked it. It was Mother who hugged the child, Mother who wanted the child—and the child had his mother. And between a wife and a husband it is the same…

“Let us pray that we shall be able to welcome Jesus at Christmas—not in the cold manger of our heart but in a heart full of love and humanity, a heart warm with love for one another.”

18 Responses to “Christmas Peace Begins at Home”

  1. Annamae

    My husband I dearly love is now with God with all my family. My children are here but have other families to be with too. But that’s ok because even the moments alone are with My God. I can go to the Manger with Him as I am never alone. Merry Christmas

    • Rose Coughlin

      Wow! You are strong I both faith and live. Merry Christmas dear lady

  2. Mary

    Thank you for sharing this. An important reminder of the need to always have a kind and loving heart.

  3. Leah

    Love does begin in the home- it comforts and heals. We pray in our home more families cultivate and share this love for each other as well as others like Mary and Joseph did for Jesus. May you find much love and joy this Christmas and in the New Year!

  4. Sabine Paul

    Thank you for sharing this reflection from Saint Teresa of Calcutta about cultivating peace in our in our homes. It is not easy to achieve but it certainly sets the foundation for all the other relationships we have. Merry Christmas to you too!

  5. Dorothy Huggins

    Beautifully said🙏🏻 Thank you Rose and God bless you with his graces and love🙏🏻🤗

  6. Mary Anderson

    Thanks Rose!
    This was perfect timing for myself and my husband. We are going through some division within out family and we have been torn on how to handle the holiday season.
    The reflection you just gave spoke volumes and offered clarity!
    Love begins at home! Reflecting on the word home merely brings warmth to the soul!

  7. mary frances herstein

    II donated one Christmas to Saint Theresa of Calcutta. To me, she was so much love to a weary world. You have inspired my heart with joy with this anecdote. Merry Christmas Rose and may Christ’s joy fill your heart with peace and love.

  8. Diane Upham

    Good Day to You Rose,
    My husband Gary and I just read this beautiful message from Mother Teresa and it warmed our souls.
    We are excited to be having 12 staying with us during the Christmas and New Year holidays. Blow-up mattresses and paper plates, but so much fun and blessings will abound!!
    Ages of five grands: 18 mons – 14 yrs!!!
    May Your Christmas Day Be Joyous and The Spirit of Love Always Glow Within Us!!

  9. Lucia Broussard

    This is such a touching story. We never know what is going on with others. Those that opened their home to this little boy were very compassionate people.
    Merry Christmas to all.

  10. Chrstine Chiachiere

    Thank you Rose for Mother Teresa’s insight. Please pray for my husband and I in trying to buy our right size home. Thank you Dear Lord Jesus

  11. Kathy

    Thank you so much Rose. This came at a good time for me as I am struggling with some of my daughter’s life decisions.

    May you and your family have a blessed Christmas!!!

  12. Ana Maria Fernandez

    Thank you Rose, I enjoyed this reflexión, and it’s true with family we have and find a love of God. St Teresa of Calcuta is my hero. Joyful and peace for you and family this Christmas time.

  13. Leah M

    Rose. Merry and Blessed Christmas to you and yours .
    This is so beautiful. Family rifts are so difficult. But I’m convinced Mother Teresa , is oh so right. Love is. Always the answer. Be patient and wait for it to work!!
    It’s always in Gods time!

  14. Gretchen

    I go a step further and say peace can only be spread once we have peace within ourselves. That peace can then spreads to family, friends, and community. If it goes that far, why not the dream of the entire world? I find peace within myself by being thankful for the gift of faith in God. My practice is to be willing to say “I’m sorry” first even if I was not wrong. My goal is to make my life my message. Blessings to you and Fred.