A Key to Harmony in the Family
“Let all be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit” (1 Peter 3:8)
We’ve just returned from a visit with some of our grandchildren. While with them, I was reminded of this verse through the example of a six-year-old. She and her seven-year-old sister enjoy playing together. They play sweetly for hours and have very little contention.
During this visit, I learned the secret to their peaceful co-existence. It’s Elisa. She is very quiet and often hangs back, cautiously sizing up a situation before committing. In addition, she frequently defers to her siblings in order to maintain peace. She’s an example of 1 Peter 3:8. She is sympathetic, kindhearted, humble in spirit, and she loves harmony.
A three-year-old brother is still learning to share, to honor boundaries, and to wait his turn, so things aren’t always peaceful. However, the impact is obvious when just one person in the group embodies the exhortation of 1 Peter 3:8 and is genuinely sympathetic, brotherly (sisterly), kindhearted, and humble in spirit.
Elisa rarely needs to be corrected. In fact, when her siblings are disciplined, it is unsettling to her as well. She stays out of the way and observes quietly as her dad takes care of things.
Five or ten minutes later, she’ll come up to him and give him a big hug. I don’t know whether she needs to assure him of her love or if she seeks reassurance that everything is still harmonious in the family. Whatever the motivation, it spreads love and peace, building harmony for all.
We often seek to influence others by force. Through Elisa, I see the opposite. I’m challenged by the strength and influence of a gentle and quiet spirit—even when it’s packaged in a very small person.
It’s really simple. Elisa is kind and sympathetic to others. In addition, she loves harmony more than she loves her own way. We need more such people in our midst.
Or maybe we all need to be more like her.
Do you know someone like Elisa who spreads harmony and brings peace in relationships?
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