Today’s Bible Verse: Ephesians 4:31-32
“ Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.”
In 1989 Ann Landers proclaimed April 2nd as National Reconciliation Day! She selected this day as a time to focus on cracked or damaged relationships. In her April 2nd column she would answer only letters pertaining to strained relationships. I am sure that she had a plethora of letters to choose from! Reconciliation is for any relationship, family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, etc.
Reconciling with someone is an inward to outward flow. Here is the hard part of looking at reconciliation - We must first start with ourselves. In order to move past the pain and issues we need to let go of blame and guilt and hold ourselves accountable for our actions.
Once we get a hold of our feeling and emotions, the next step is letting go of fault and what went wrong. Then it is time to initiate healing. You have to take the first step in reconciling the relationship. Leave the past in the past and work on finding a mutual ground in which to move forward.
Relationships are complicated. They require a lot of open and clear communication, space to grow, and sometimes sacrifice. Reconciliation is not always a possibility. In this case the knowledge that you truly tried will lead to healing and closure.
God created us to be in relationship, relationship with Him and with the people around us. Take some time today and think about the many relationships you have and have had in your life. Lift them up in prayer giving thanks for all of the good and asking for forgiveness and peace for the not so good.
Good or bad each relationship that you have had in your life has become a piece of the amazing person that you are today.
Peace,