About Karen Whiting

Our guest, Karen Whiting, is a mother of two daughters and three sons, and that includes rocket scientists. She's a grandmother of 15 and her late husband served in the U.S. Coast Guard, so they raised their children from Hawaii to New York and Michigan to Florida. She is the author of 27 books, an International speaker, certified writing and marketing coach, and a former television co-host.

Gaining a Peaceful Heart within Your Family

Trace, Michelle and Karen discuss the importance of peace within families and how to cultivate it.  They share their thoughts on the current state of the American family where internal conflict and anxiety are prevalent due to the complexities of modern life.  They suggest that genuine peace can only be achieved through faith in God. The conversation also touches on the role of parents in guiding their children through life's struggles, emphasizing the importance of setting boundaries and allowing children to experience failure as a means of growth.

Karen shares her approach to fostering peace within her family through devotions, prayer and active listening.  She gives great examples of how this approach helped her children have love and compassion for each other.  She also discusses the negative impact of permissive parenting and the overuse of digital devices on children's mental health.

At the end, Trace and Karen differentiate between peacekeeping and peacemaking and explain which they think is a long-term solution that sometimes requires conflict, and use the example of Jesus in the temple in Matthew 21:12-17.

Episode Highlights:

What is the polar opposite of peace?

Karen's take on anxiety, and how to get your kids to get a long.

What is investigative listening?

How media or music can affect your child's peace.

Do people seem to thrive on conflict?

Image from Canva