A Prayer for Patience and Grace in Family Gatherings By Annie Yorty Bible Reading “Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony.” - Colossians 3:12-14 NLT “Look at this list of rules my sister-in-law sent,” Jen said. She turned her phone toward me. “I want to visit for Thanksgiving, but I’m afraid I’ll say the wrong thing.” A quick scan of the text told me Jen’s family wanted to avoid every potential conflict during the upcoming holiday gathering. No discussion of politics. No past disagreements. No cultural topics. No commentary on child-rearing. She even banned sports rivalries. “Have you replied to this text?” I asked. “No, I don’t want her to get mad at me.” Jen’s shoulders slumped. “Maybe I should just stay home.” |
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