If the mere thought of Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year’s gatherings already has your stomach in knots, your heart racing, or your temper flaring weeks in advance—this episode is your lifeline.

We're kicking off a brand-new holiday survival series, Tis the Season, with the one thing that actually works when family triggers, old wounds, and impossible expectations threaten to steal your peace: boundaries.

Whether you’re bracing for difficult parents, in-laws, divorced-family logistics, grief anniversaries, or the annual political/religion blow-up at the dinner table—the holidays don’t have to wreck you. You can love your family, honor your vocation, and still protect the gift of peace God died to give you.

Thank you with all my heart to my newest Friends of the Show for loving and lifting me. Friends of the Show get all Premium Content and access to our monthly Bible study!

What are you waiting for? Come join us for our next Monthly Meetup Bible study on the Sacred Holy Trinity!

LOVE the Word® is a Bible study method based on Mary’s own practice: lectio without the Latin. Get the book based on Sonja’s method in the right margin, How to Pray Like Mary.  

L | Listen (Receive the Word via audio or video.)

 

O | Observe (Connect the passage to your life and recent events.)

What's one new boundary you can put in place to add peace to your holidays for yourself and your family this year?

V | Verbalize (Pray about your thoughts and emotions.)

Remembering that He loves you and that you are in His presence, talk to God about the particulars of your O – Observe step. You may want to write your reflections in your LOVE the Word® journal. Or, get a free journal page and guide in the right-hand margin.

E | Entrust (Rest in the Word.)

Our Lady, Seat of Wisdom, with the Holy Spirit your Beloved Spouse, lend me your wisdom and illumine my heart and mind so I may become free to glorify God by reaching my full potential, the glory for which I was created.  Amen +

Love Heals. Learn More.

Connect

Join me (click here) in the Sacred Healing community for our Masterclass and Consultation Group coaching calls, healing prayer livestreams, monthly Bible studies, LOVE the Word® takeaways, a healing masterclass and other courses, a dynamic phone app, and a flourishing community to help you find help, support, and experience deeper healing. 

What We Discussed | Show Notes

Overview:

Minutes 00:00-15:00 – Great Expectations; what is "abuse"?; inappropriate behaviors 

Minutes 15:01-30:00 – fight or flight; recognizing trauma bonds; guilt associated with boundaries

Minutes 30:01-60:00 – 6 P's: Predict, Plan, Priorities, Prepare, Protect, Peace

Transcript

Transcripts and CC are now provided automatically within both the audio and video players.