“Shun youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. Have nothing to do with stupid and senseless controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.”
--2 Timothy 2: 22-23
“Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.
Above all, clothe yourselves with love…”
--Colossians 3: 13-14b
For years, my husband has asked me to put the steering wheel up after I’ve driven his car—and for years, I’ve asked him to put his dirty socks in the clothes hamper. Yet neither of us can remember to accommodate the others wishes. Dee gets into his vehicle, bumping his knees; and I have to pick up his socks while I’m cleaning up each morning. These are minor, little irritations, but they seem to perpetually create conflict in our lives. We both attribute our negligence to memory problems—but I sometimes wonder if they aren’t subconscious acts meant to somehow exert superiority over the other. Either way, even these little acts require repeated and intentional forgiveness, if peace is to reign in our family...
To read the rest of this chapter, you will now need to buy my book, Simple Faith, Mighty Faith, published by Cornhusker Press and released 7-3-2011. Go to my website, http://www.JerriHaussler.com for ordering details. Thank you!* * *
Thoughts to Ponder/Points for Discussion
- How do you deal with conflict in your life? Do you have a model to follow which helps or does your anger, hurt, and resentment continue to grow?
- Are you able to forgive both the small and the big stuff of your life or do you need to find a professional to help you work through your hurt?
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