First Church of God

Yesterday Jacob had a baseball game at 7:00 p.m., so after dinner he and David went outside to play catch in the driveway just to warm up!  Our oldest son Caleb was already outside playing basketball in the driveway.  Caleb decided to join in on the game of catch.  Now if you have boys you know that anytime brothers play sports together there is going to be some sort of conflict.  I was inside cleaning up from dinner, and before you could say "BOO" the guys were stomping through the kitchen on the way to a meeting with their father in the living room! 

Just to give you the inside track on our household...anytime you are asked to the living room for a meeting it is usually not a good thing.  You see, we have a family room, which has the big TV, the video games, the comfy chairs, and all the fun stuff.  Then there is the living room.  The living room has the more formal furniture, the bookcase, and NO distractions.  I have a collection of crosses that hang on our living room wall, and I think they help to remind David and I of the grace God has given us...soooo we need to be careful to take a deep breath when disciplining the boys to extend grace when necessary! Anyway, on this day both of the boys had been given a firm invitation to the living room and I had no idea why.  As I very quietly tip toed to the hallway so that I could hear what was going DOWN!  I could sense the tension in the air as David, with his very deep "your in so much trouble" voice on, tell the boys how embarrassed he was of their behavior in the driveway.  As the story unfolded it came out that they had gotten into a bit of an argument in the driveway.  And, because it was a beautiful day here in Michigan, all the neighbors were out working in their lawns.  Are you getting the picture?  Not only had they gotten into an argument, but they had done so in full view of every one of our neighbors.  That game of catch had quickly turned into a game of "see who can be the loudest with their problem with the other brother".

I'm not really sure at what part of the whole thing David was more upset with, the volume of the whole thing or the argument in general.  Anyway, the discussion was short, apologies were made, and the game of catch resumed even though the boys really didn't want to play any more!  (I think that was part of the punishment and a needed part of the learning process!)  The time came for the game and we left for the ball park.  The tension was soon forgotten and life went on as if it had never happened. 

Isn't it amazing how quickly tension rises in our lives.  Whether it is just tension brought on by circumstances beyond our control or the tension that comes from a relationship in turmoil.  That afternoon, as I was sneaking to listen in the hallway, I was reminded what the Bible says in James 3:13-18, "Who is wise and understanding  among you?  Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.  But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.  Such wisdom does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil.  For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.  But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peaceloving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy, and good fruit, impartial and sincere.  Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness."  (James 4:1-10 is also a good "read" on this subject!)

As parents we are constantly striving to teach our children.  Everything that happens, every experience, every day is full of teaching moments, and today was no exception.  The boys were sternly reminded by their earthly father of the principles that he has learned from the heavenly Father.  Caleb and Jacob, being brothers, will probably always have a spirit of competition between them, but they have to be taught that at the end of the day they must love each other, and they must love peace! 

It is not just children that need these reminders.  Frequently I see adults that need a visit to "the living room of life" to be scolded into recognition of the bitterness that is screaming from within them with every word they speak.  My prayer in this moment is that I would be a peacemaker with pure motives, consideration for others, full of mercy, submissive, impartial, sincere, and one who bears good fruit.  Sometimes I think that life comes at us in one volume...LOUD!  Having the ability to react with our mute button engaged is not always easy, but I hope that when those moments of tension come I can allow God Almighty to take over!  My children, my neighbors, and perfect strangers will learn more from the way I live my life than the verbal reprimands given in times of stress. 

The boys will play catch again in the driveway, they will most definitely over the years to come argue again and again! But I hope and pray that the life David and I live in front of them will be a constant reminder that tension will come, but peace must reign supreme!