MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO LIVE IN PEACE WITH EVERYONE
When you become an empty nester, the house is eerily quiet. There is a long adjustment period after your house has been filled with squeals and laughter and the occasional argument. After a couple of months, you start to adjust to your new normal, and the quiet doesn’t seem as eerie as before.
The funny thing about an empty nest is, it may not stay empty for long. Some people might start filling their nests with fur babies to give them something to care for. Fur babies don’t talk, but they do give you a lot of love and affection, and that helps you cope with the empty nest. Or, one or more of your children might move back in with you, and the adjustment period starts all over again.
Children go off to college and start to taste freedom for the first time. They no longer have someone making sure they study, eat right, go to bed early, or make it to class on time. AND, THEY LOVE IT! They seem to adjust way better than the parents who are still back at home.
But, semesters end and some children come back home, at least for a small period of time. Parents still want to “parent” and the children still want “freedom,” so there is bound to be some conflicts.
My daughter is in her 30s, has been living on her own for many years. But, she has moved back home with Joe and me, and the adjustment period is in full swing. I’ve given her a lot of leeways to come and go and make herself at home in whatever way she wants. However, she and Joe are natured exactly alike, and the conflicts have already begun.
As quickly as spats arise, they are usually settled just as quickly. The other morning, they started quarreling and neither one was willing to listen to the other. Usually, I am the referee, but I got fed up with them, so I picked up my computer and headed to the basement to work. I gave Joe the “look,” and he knew that I was not pleased with how they were acting.
When I got to the basement, I opened up my phone and my Bible verse of the day popped up. I opened it because I knew that I needed to read the Lord’s word to calm down. Isn’t it funny how the Lord works?
Hebrews 12:14
14 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.
Here I am, sitting in the basement, stewing because my daughter and husband aren’t behaving like I want them to. When I read Hebrews 12:14, I knew that “I” hadn’t made every effort to live in peace, I had stormed off in frustration. That was not the best way to handle the situation, and it sure was holy. To be holy, was the remainder of the verse, and holy was not how I acted. I acted like a child, and I stomped off because I wasn’t getting my way.
I prayed for guidance, and that the Holy Spirit would show us how to all live in peace during this adjustment phase. Then, I sent Joe a screenshot of my Bible verse. He messaged back that they had already worked things out, and then thanked me for sending the verse. He said that he needed the reminder just like I did.
Your situation might not be a child moving back home. It might be a co-worker that is giving you a hard time, or maybe a family member takes every opportunity to belittle you whenever they are around. We all have someone in our lives that can get under our skin. It doesn’t matter who it is causing the issues in your life, we are to make EVERY effort to live in peace with EVERYONE and to be holy. We might be the only person they know who could show them what being holy looks like, and it is not stomping off to the basement.
Because, without holiness, none of us will see the Lord.
To God Goes The Glory!
Have A Blessed Day!
Tania, this is so good! The Lord certainly is using u in a mighty way through this medium. May God richly bless u! …..and THANK U, for ur commitment to this endeavor.
I so identify with this. Recently I was trying to be the peacemaker between 2 extended family members that were at odds with one another. I spent hours talking separately with both of them, but was getting frustrated myself because I wasn’t seeing any results for my efforts. Until…the Lord spoke to me that I was just to be a conduit for peace, and only he had the power to bring peace. That was a relief to me. And since then, I have seen peace come between two people I love. So make every effort for peace and leave the rest to God.
Thank you Tania! I needed to hear this message today! God sent the right messenger in you!
Thanks for another post that was right on target! It is amazing how God will find ways to “feed” his children what they are needing.
Thank you for your post today. We all need to live in peace.
Truth from God’s Word for every single day.
You are so right! It is a great topic for all of us with all the unrest at this time both here in the U.S. and other countries. The timing is perfect. Let’s all remember that verse.
Sometimes, as a teacher, I get an email from a parent that doesn’t like how something went in the classroom and they will send me an email that really tears apart my character. I got one this weekend and I tend to fret and stew over it for days. I called the parent and did everything I could to. make peace even though I felt attacked. I needed this reminder. God is my guard and my advocate. I can trust him and seek peace.
Striking back and defending ourselves is usually the first response. I tend to stew for days also.
Thank you for this reminder. I needed this today. May your day be filled with peace.
Thank you for this! Needed it today!
Thank you for sharing!
My son has moved in, so this was a great post for me.
Could you please tell me what app you use for your daily Bible verse? Thank you.
It is the YouVersion Bible App.
Excellent verse and so very important to remember. Thank you for the reminder!!
I really needed this reminder today. My grown son has been back home with us due to burst water pipes in his home. It’s been 2 months and nerves are frayed and we all are ready for it to be fixed so he can move back home. This verse really hit home for me today. Thank you for your Sunday verses and weekly ones as well.
Everyone has to remember, it is a stressful situation for all involved. We need to give each other some grace.
Always great and right on time. Thank you.
Thanks for the reminder! I appreciate your transparency and vulnerability. To God be the glory!!
Great reminder – we all have a role in keeping peace. Thank you for sharing.
Love todays post. What app do you have that pops up a Bible verse each day?id love to get it. Thanks!
I have the YouVersion Bible App.
A great message for me today. Between this reminder and Yvonne’s at Stonegable, I have literally been given the Word! The human in me – I guess that would be Satan – tells me to snap back or gossip about those people who are unlovable or create chaos unnecessarily. I need to rely on John 15 and the verse above in Hebrews. I also want to say as another one did here, we must pray for Ukraine, our country and its leadership.
I so enjoy your Sunday posts. I read it while having my coffee before starting my day. Your words are truly anointed to speak straight to my heart. Thank you.
Thank you for begin so open and honest. It’s easy to read blogs and think that everyone has a perfect life.
Becky, I’m sure that nobody’s life is perfect, no matter how much they act like it is.
Thank you for the verse. I read the Bible a lot, but always need reminders as I am older and live with my grown children. All our personalities are different. I thank Jesus I am forgiven even when I forget
That’s the thing that we all have to remember, we can be different, but still love each other and get along.
Thanks Tania, this is a great reminder.
I work in an office with all women in social services. We are required hours of training yearly. I was recently in a zoom class & heard the simple statement that you don’t have to like everyone you work with, but you can always act professionally. It’s not just “cause & effect”, it’s “cause & choice”.
This scripture tells to “Make every effort” – no stone left unturned” – “to live in peace” – I love that there isn’t an if following the word peace. And the verse doesn’t stop there.
It contains with “and be holy”. None of us can be holy w/out God’s help. So it’s truly all about of choices, behavior & our desire to be in right relationship with Him.
Thanks for passing on this reminder!! We all need it.
Thank you so much for your post on living in peace. My 28 yr old son moved home 5 months ago after being on his own 3 yrs. It’s been a challenge as he’s not been working since Christmas and feels he’s too good for jobs out there. I too am the peace keeper, mediator, referee. I pray every morning for this situation. God has His reasons for moving him back home. Thank you for your witness through your posts 🙏❤️
It is a hard time for your son as well, so everybody needs to do some compromising.
Loved this Sunday’s post. Praying for the poor people in Ukraine 🇺🇦 praying for peace 🙏
I am praying for them.
Thank you for this reminder today ♡