‘The Lord will bless His people with peace.’ Psalm 29:11 NKJV

Work finishes and everything turns crazy. The roads and buses are full of people trying to get home, but the real rush hour starts when we arrive home. Early evening is a time when everyone is hungry and tempers are short. Two working parents usually come home stressed and tired, but their children are unsympathetic and need immediate attention. It’s a setup for conflict. There are some things you can do to help defuse this rush hour time bomb.

First, try calling your children before you leave work in the afternoon. This can give you a head start in dealing with any troubles that might be brewing at home.

Second, make a conscious effort during your trip home to disengage from the responsibilities of your job and the cares of the day.

Third, concerning the dinner meal, if both parents are away at work it’s wise to have as much preparation as possible done ready for when you get home. Perhaps your children can have the responsibility to wash the vegetables, because the quicker everyone can eat and raise their blood sugar, the better. Then spend some time with the kids before homework and bath time begins. You might like to go for a family walk or play football in the garden.

Finally, get the kids in bed and reserve a few moments of tranquillity for yourselves. There’s no easy way to get through rush hour five nights a week, but with a little planning, it can be less stressful. And here’s a rush hour promise: ‘The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace.’

SoulFood: Ecc 9–12, Matt 15:1–14, Ps 5, Pr 5:1–2

The Word for Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from UCB International Copyright ©