If you have strained relationships with people in your extended family, I challenge you to extend grace to them. Forgive the wrongs they’ve done. Reach upward and ask God for the strength to show genuine love to that person. I know it’s impossible. But with God all things are possible. Open your heart God-wards, and God will love that person through you.
I have deep, beautiful relationships with people today that a decade ago I could have never imagined being close to. God is the great Healer. God changed the way I reacted to the person that I felt wounded by. As a result of my changed countenance, the other person saw God’s grace in my life, and God was glorified through me. Healing happened.
Our lives on this earth are too short to be fighting with people we’re supposed to love. If you only had three days to live, would you still fight? This life is like a vapor; it really is a metaphorical three days. Who cares if the other person is wrong? Give up your rights. Humble yourself before the Lord, and He will lift you up.
Even though I don’t normally like western music, I love this song because it encourages us to forgive freely and live life to its fullest. No, you don’t have to go sky diving, but I see that as a metaphor for taking a risk to love the way God has commanded us to love.
