Peace … At Whose Expense?
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Matthew 5:9
The brothers had been estranged for years. Neither felt they were wrong. For a fact, they each felt the other was to blame. Consequently, neither of them took the initiative to resolve the issues keeping them apart, so small in light of the impact it had on these once-close siblings.
A childhood friend had been praying for them for a few years when he had a revelation: talk to them individually about the joy they had shared growing up, the laughter and tears, all of it. He got them to recall times of swimming in the farm pond, camping in the mountains, even the time they had hitchhiked to a rock concert in ’76.
As they continued to remember the wonderful times they’d had, they began to gain a renewed perspective. Warmth replaced bitterness; forgiveness replaced anger. The chasm melted away in light of the truth; it wasn’t bigger than their love. Because of the devotion of a friend, they learned to share their lives once again.
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Unresolved wounds breed. They never give in or go away. If we choose to embrace the wound, we give it life, and it takes hold in our heart. Untreated, it can become a stronghold of bitterness. Most of the time, we can’t even recall what the initial offense was; we just want vindication!
Self-vindication never heals. This friend decided to take positive action that would hopefully lead to reconciliation. The action required the brothers to recall the better, more important times. No offense should outweigh the value of the relationship.
We are asked to become peacemakers, to place relationships above anything that would threaten them. Peacemakers are sons of God because they understand how priceless relationship is to the Father; without it, we are damned.
Prayer
“Lord, Thank you for the peacemakers in my life. I admit that it’s hard for me to forgive and be the one to ask for forgiveness for any part I played in the rifts of my life. Help me understand that being a peacemaker starts the beginning of healing in my life. Please give me strength as I take that first step. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”
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