Photo by cottonbro
Peacemaker
I love you, and I love you, too.
How sad, when altercations brew.
Please do the work to love each other.
We’re not supposed to hate one another. ¹
Disunity sets off an alarm:
Your relationship is suffering harm!
Hurtful words are not polite.
Let me help disarm the fight.
Diffuse the tempers, false objections,
Misunderstanding good intentions.
A diplomat who works for free.
I make paths of civility.
An advocate. A compromiser.
Listen well...be all the wiser.
While barbs fly, and expressions taunt,
Harmony, is all I want.
I’ll urge you to apologize,
Bite your tongue, and sympathize.
Be merciful, give second chances.
Believe the best, despite circumstances.
As a tree in gale wind, bends.
Fair criticisms can be friends.
What devastation faction makes,
if you won’t learn from your mistakes.
The goal is love, not stubborn pride.
You two should be on the same side.
John 13:34-35
© 2015 gratefulsue
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It’s true, that “loving one another” takes work. Hard work. Both children and parents know this well. So do friends, co-workers, business associates and church members. Sweethearts and married couples can have conflicts also, after the extended honeymoon period ends. Prayer and humility are essentials helps. A professional therapist for individuals, or a “Marriage and family counselor” for couples, can be the difference between saving or losing the relationship permanently.
If you don’t have a third person to referee the conflict, “making peace” becomes a choice. Both parties must be willing to listen and not just talk. We must explain, not just accuse or blame. Learn what it means to validate the other person’s point of view, even if you disagree with it. “I understand why you feel that way.” Or, “It must have been hard for you to feel so alone and misunderstood.”