During the pandemic that the world faced between the years 2020 and 2022, people were forced to remain confined in their homes for long periods of time. In many households, this produced serious conflicts and an increase in divorces, showing that families were not prepared for prolonged coexistence in the same environment. Mental health was clearly affected by stress, uncertainty, fear, anxiety, depression, and more, and many did not find in the home the refuge they needed.¹
Thanks be to God, the pandemic has now passed, but the need to care for mental health in the home remains extremely important. Emotional crises can be triggered by extreme situations other than just pandemics. According to the WHO (World Health Organization), the third leading cause of death among adolescents and young people between the ages of 15 and 29 is suicide.² This reveals that the “hearth” of many families has ceased to warm the hearts of its members with true love, faith, and hope. [From Latin, hogar (home) derives from the word hoguera (hearth/fire).]
Creating a welcoming environment
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear” (1 John 4:18).
“There are many who regard the expression of love as a weakness, and they maintain a reserve that repels others. This spirit checks the current of sympathy. As the social and generous impulses are repressed, they wither, and the heart becomes desolate and cold. We should beware of this error. Love cannot long exist without expression. Let not the heart of one connected with you starve for the want of kindness and sympathy.”³
Breaking harmful cycles
“That which I see not teach thou me: if I have done iniquity, I will do no more” (Job 34:32).
“The reason why there are so many hardhearted men and women in the world is that true affection has been regarded as weakness, and has been discouraged and repressed. The better nature of these persons was stifled in childhood; and unless the light of divine love shall melt away their cold selfishness, their happiness will be forever ruined.”⁴
Medicine for body and soul
“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones” (Proverbs 17:22).
“Love can no more exist without revealing itself in outward acts than fire can be kept alive without fuel. Leave your business cares and perplexities and annoyances when you leave your business. Come to your family with a cheerful countenance, with sympathy, tenderness, and love. This will be better than expending money for medicines or physicians for your wife. It will be health to the body and strength to the soul.”⁵