Mission

There’s an old adage that goes something like this, “A family that prays together stays together!” It was first coined in the early by Father Patrick Peyton, a Irish Roman Catholic priest and founder of the “Family Rosary Crusade.”

Peyton was a popular and charismatic figure in Latin America and popularized the phrase “The family that prays together stays together” in the early 1900’s.

Without damaging the integrity of what Peyton was trying to communicate, I’d like to alter this phrase just a tad.

While walking on #MAP18 to bring attention to the poor and vulnerable, my wife and I have learned that not only does “a family prays together stays together,” but also “a family that sacrifices together must also endure burdens together.”

I love my family, and I know this journey has been hard on them like it has been hard on me.

In fact, if you know me then you know that family and friendship mean a lot to me. My family is my heartbeat and I don’t call a lot of people friend. But, if I do call you friend then I do really mean it.

Over the last 23 days, my wife and children have had to endure some of the same hardships that I have experienced. Why? Because whatever I carry they carry as well.

For instance, on the last walk to Washington D.C., they were able to walk with me and experience the walk too, but on this walk we felt that it was safer for them to be present but not walk.

My wife opened up and did an interview to explain what she has felt while I’ve been on this particular walk.

You’ll be able to view that below, but I would like to first share a few things that my wife and I have learned is this journey:

Here goes…

I. We’ve learned that when one person in the family is called to a mission, everyone in the family is called to that same mission.

It must be agreed upon by everyone in the family to carry the load and sacrifice. If everyone is not on board, then it will make the mission even harder. As a family, we all feel like this is what we were assembled to do together as a unit—serve those who are forgotten.

II. We’ve learned that when one person feels pressure, everyone feels that pressure.

For instance, in the video below my wife explains what she’s been carrying although not walking with me every single day.

One of the ways we maintain strength is by reminding each other of our original commitment to finish what we’ve started no matter what the outcome is.

III. We’ve learned that if children are present, they are watching.

On day 22, my daughter wrote me a note about what she is learning from watching my wife and I.

She said, “I’m learning that when we take care of those who are poor, God takes care of us.” Each day, I’m not only driven by who I’m fighting for, but by who is watching me—my children.

Check out the full video below to hear my wife’s side of the story below:

Cecilia’s view of MAP18 from Love Beyond Walls on Vimeo.

Terence