You have probably heard the word “unprecedented” more times in the last month than you have in your entire life. If you are like me, you are so tired of hearing the word that you have become desperate for an appropriate synonym just to keep things fresh. With everything going on in our world, I want to suggest two simple changes that may ramp up an environment of peace in your home.

Turn off the news. It is tempting for us to keep the news on for extended periods of time during this strange season. However, I would encourage you to turn it off while in the presence of your family, and to limit your own consumption of it. I am not recommending that you ignore headlines, but I am recommending the consumption of news to be viewed as a discipline to be carried out by parents and grandparents in privacy.

Limit time on social media. You may think that I’m primarily talking about limiting time for kids, but you may consider setting up accountability for yourself. News sources have agendas and target audiences but they are likely to produce information from appropriate sources. However, social media cannot be blindly trusted for appropriate research or verifiable claims.

The news and social media are painfully repetitious by nature, and are incessantly so during this time. Stay informed so that you can provide the most up to date information for your family, but do your part to protect your family from the onslaught of anxiety that news outlets produce.

Being a leader in the home includes being a filter for your home. Being a filter ultimately translates to you applying the filter of the Bible to your family. Yes, consult the news and keep up with what is going on, but submit the headlines to what God has said through His Word. Once you’ve done that, you’ll be able to lead your family with the concrete truth that God provides. Following these simple suggestions may allow your family to carry out the instruction of Psalm 46:10 even during times of stress:

“Be still, and know that I am God.

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth!” (ESV)

God bless you and your family. May He bring you closer to Himself and closer together than ever before.

– Frank Trimble