Are you the wedge in a relationship?
Are you always, right? Do you think you are surrounded by people who couldn’t punch their way out of a paper bag? Are you always the one who brings up a minor point at a meeting like the PTA, or a Book Club? Do you always have to have the last say in an argument? Ask yourself this question, ‘do I ensue peace and tranquility or do I disrupt anyplace I am given the chance to speak my mind?’
You may be a wedge!!!
If you are not a peacemaker, then perhaps you are the opposite. Some introspection may be in order. How is your relationship with your spouse? Are you the one who always speaks encouraging words, or do you harbor hurt feelings for every wrong word or action you have perceived had been spoken or taken against you? Do you have a loving and forgiving spirit, or the spirit of contention?
If you have to think about any of these questions, ask yourself this, “Do you try to collect people who will agree with you, and do you try to convince them of your point of view? Do you build people and organizations up or do you find fault in everything and everyone and then tear them down?
The Bible says in Matthew 5:9 “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” and again in Romans 12:8 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. And again, in Luke 6:31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
As parents it is our job to stop discourse in the family almost before it begins. How many families do you know who are not speaking to one another over something foolish? My parents use to say often. “If you have nothing nice to say, say nothing at all.” Couldn’t we all use that advice?
We as writers know aversion gets the most reaction, but it is my contention we don’t always have to take the cheap shots. We can rise above the rabble rouses and maintain our dignity and write what we know is right!!
And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand. Mark 3: 24-25
Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. I Corinthians 1:10
But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and striving about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. Titus 3:9
Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth. Luke 11:17
But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also, is Christ.
For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
For the body is not one member, but many.
If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
And if they were all one member, where were the body?
But now are they many members, yet but one body.
And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.
Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:
And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:
That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. I Corinthians 12:11-26