Peacemakers

Read: Psalm 34:13-14; Hebrews 12:14-15

“I know, but that’s what Bianca said.” Kaylee switched the phone to her other ear. “She told me she was sick of hearing you whine all the time. I can’t help it if she says mean things about you.”

When the call ended, Kaylee went into the living room. “Who was that?” asked Dad. “Sounded like you were trying to stop World War III!”

Kaylee sighed. “It was Emmylou. She and Bianca are my best friends, but they hate each other! And I seem to always get caught in the middle of their arguments.”

“Why don’t they like each other?” asked Dad.

“I don’t know,” said Kaylee. “But they’re always saying mean things about each other.”

“Hmm,” said Dad. “Well, I don’t know what their problem is, but when you hear one of them say something unkind about the other, have you tried keeping it to yourself? Didn’t you just tell Emmylou that Bianca told you she was sick of her whining?”

Kaylee blushed. “Uh, yeah, I guess. But that’s what Bianca said.”

“Yes, but you’re contributing to the problem, Kaylee,” Dad told her. “Jesus tells us to be peacemakers. He brought us peace by making us right with God, and He wants us to help make peace between others. To do that, we need to act in a kind, loving way when others aren’t being kind to each other.”

“But I was just telling the truth!” said Kaylee. “Isn’t that what Jesus wants me to do?”

“While Jesus wants us to tell the truth, the way you’re doing it isn’t very kind or loving to either of your friends. When you tell one of the girls the mean things the other said about her, you’re making her feel bad about herself and angry at the other person. Instead, see if you can pick up on anything nice they say about each other and repeat those things.”

Kaylee thought it over. “I guess it’s worth a try.”

“At the very least, you can stop spreading the bad feelings around,” said Dad. “And as they see God’s love in you and your care in what you choose to tell them the other person has said—and in what you say yourself—they might start saying kind things more often!”

–Barbara J. Westberg

How about you? Do you repeat unkind things and stir up trouble? Today’s Bible reading says to seek and pursue peace. One way to do that is to keep any unkind words you hear someone say about another person to yourself. Instead, listen for kind things said about others and repeat those—and add some of your own! Let the peace and love you have in Jesus spread into your relationships through the words you choose to say.

Today's Key Verse: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Matthew 5:9 (NIV)

Today's Key Thought: Be a peacemaker