My dad was the youngest of seven, so our family celebrations were raucous.
Aunts, uncles, cousins, and even random neighbors piled up around the dinner table, and everyone talked—loudly . As the youngest with the smallest voice, I often felt overlooked.
The conversations were constant and seemed impossible to break into. Most of the time, I’d just give up and stay quiet.
But one holiday dinner, lost in the noise, my dad caught my eye from across the table and gave me a little wink.
No one else noticed it, but I’ll never forget it. That wink said: “Even though no one sees you, I do. Even though no one hears you, I do. Go on—try again.”
In that one small gesture, I was taught hope. It wasn’t just kindness—I was seen, loved, and encouraged to grow. So, when St. John Paul II describes the family as the “cradle of life and love” in Christifideles Laici, I always think of that moment with my dad.
JPII reminds us that the family can be where we first encounter love. But he understood the challenges too. Families can be complicated and even painful at times. And in the modern world, families can lose sight of their unique and remarkable role in God’s plan.
Still, JPII believed that families centered on Christ who understand the beauty of their identity and take on this responsibility have the power to transform the entire world and the Church.
Now that I’m a dad myself, that’s my hope too. I want to find those little moments to build my wife and daughter up—whether it’s an extra word of encouragement, a kind look, or even a wink across the room that silently says, “I see you, and you matter.”
This week, I’ll start with small opportunities to embrace this call. Will you join me?
Together, let’s answer St. John Paul II’s call: “Family, become what you are!