Today marks the feast day of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. In all honesty, when I imagine life for the Holy Family, I am tempted to believe it is one of ease, events going according to plan, and no conflict, especially around the dining table. At times this has led me to find the Holy Family unrelatable and yet still a model to emulate. I sometimes find myself gazing at an icon of Jesus, Mary and Joseph that is above our kitchen sink, shaking my head saying, “But you wouldn’t understand.”

Love is palpable this time of year, but it is often intertwined in the occasions of visiting, decorating, gift giving, baking, and other activities that we often look forward to because they are comforting, nostalgic, and bring us cheer. This Christmas, let us accept the challenge of stepping out of this place of contentment to practice sacrificial love.

This Advent, Catholic Women in Business are invited to enter a sacred kind of waiting — one that refines, not rushes. In a world obsessed with productivity and profit, God calls us instead to prepare our hearts with mercy and mindfulness.

How do we find peace in a culture that never stops talking? How do we hold onto stillness in our work, our homes, and our hearts? This Advent, Catholic Women in Businesses encourages you to turn to the Beatitudes.