Discovering Hope at Home
"For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations."
Psalm 100:5
How love between generations can awaken hope — and faith
For many people, family is where we first experience something deeper than words, something that feels like love, like belonging, like a hint of the sacred.
At the Catholic Enquiry Centre, we often meet people who are wondering if there’s more to life, something bigger that gives it all meaning. For many, that search starts not in a church, but at home.
In the small gestures of kindness. In listening across generations. In the moments that feel quietly holy.
Grandparents: Holding Our Stories
There’s something powerful about sitting with someone who’s lived through more seasons than we have. Grandparents or the older people in our lives often carry stories that remind us where we come from, stories of strength, forgiveness, survival, and unexpected grace.
In many Catholic homes, grandparents are the ones who pass on simple acts of faith—like lighting a candle, saying a prayer before meals, or sharing why hope matters, even in hard times.
Even if we haven’t grown up with faith, listening to the stories of those who have lived more years than us can help us connect to something timeless—something that gently points toward the possibility of God’s presence in our lives.
Children: Opening Us to Wonder
Children have a way of seeing things as they really are, without pretense. They ask big questions. They notice beauty. They help us laugh and remind us to slow down.
In the Gospels, Jesus often pointed to children as examples of what real trust looks like. That’s not because they had all the answers - but because they were open to wonder.
Whether or not faith was part of your childhood, being around children can stir a sense of openness in us too - a readiness to believe that love is real, that goodness matters, and that maybe we’re not alone in this world after all.
Reconnecting Across the Years
Even in close families, it’s easy to grow distant. Life is busy. Screens distract us. Age differences can create misunderstandings.
But reconnection often begins with simple steps:
Ask a grandparent or older relative to share something they’ve learned in life.
Invite a child into a family tradition... maybe it’s baking, lighting a candle, or saying something you’re grateful for at dinner.
Set aside a few minutes with no distractions, just to be present.
Listen. Really listen.
These small choices can become moments of grace. And for those who are curious about faith, they can also be a quiet way in.
Faith Begins with Presence
You don’t need to have all the answers to begin exploring faith.
For many people, it starts by simply paying attention:
to the people who’ve loved us well,
to the beauty in the everyday,
to the sense that there might be more than just what we see.
Faith often grows in the small spaces - through the kindness of a parent, the questions of a child, the steadiness of a grandparent. These are seeds of something sacred.
And if you’re just starting to ask those deeper questions - about God, about purpose, about belonging - you’re not alone.
A Family Blessing
As part of our Year of Hope reflections, we invite you to pause and pray (or simply reflect) with this short blessing. Whether you believe, want to believe, or are simply open to the journey, this can be a small way to welcome peace into your home and heart. You can download colour or print friendly versions of this prayer below.
Family Blessing
Gracious God,
Thank You for the people in our lives who love us—across time and generations.
Help us to see Your goodness in the small moments —
in stories shared, in laughter, in quiet care.
Teach us to be grateful. Help us to be kind.
Where there is distance, bring understanding.
Where there is hurt, bring healing.
May our homes be places of peace.
And may we come to know You—
slowly, gently, day by day.
Amen.
A gentle question to consider:
Has someone in your family helped you see life differently - or opened your heart in a way that surprised you?
If you're curious about Catholic faith or wondering where to begin, the Catholic Enquiry Centre is here for you. No pressure. No expectations. Just an open invitation to explore.
