Living Epistles

Have you ever ask people to do something for you, they've answered yes, but didn't follow up with the request promptly or as intended? How did you feel? Did you blame yourself? Did you resent them? Did you try to add your own emotions and feelings to a negligible situation and make it bigger than necessary? Did you try to excuse yourself and blame the others involved for your unfulfilled request?

My family experienced a situation like that where we came to the realization that something was wrong in what happened. Whether our feelings were justified or not, we were upset by the incident. It bothered me very much because it affected one of my children negatively causing more friction in my already dysfunctional family. But oh my! What a great learning experience it was for us. We had a great opportunity to discuss what we could have done differently, what we perceive the other parties' attitudes were towards us, what they could have done differently, and what God wanted us to learn from that situation. It was a humble learning experience. I say “what we perceive the other parties' attitudes were towards us” because we interpreted the situation by what was said to us afterwards when communicating with the parties involved.

How often a thoughtless or deliberate action causes the breakdown of friendships, destroys families and causes people to blaspheme our God. How often the hardness of our hearts and prideful opinions of one's importance cause us to consider others less than ourselves. When we know how much the Father loves us all, and how he wants his children to behave in order to bring glory to his name, how sad it is when we hurt each other. Each one of us is very important to Father. Often it is expected that unbelievers, not yet part of the family of God, will be uncaring, but not people who consider themselves children of God.

In our case, we only lost an item recently purchased worth about forty dollars. But we learned a lesson for a lifetime. Thanks Jesus! History shows family members and friends have become estranged because of perceived and real unloving words and actions. There are stories of people who passed away without having known if they were ever accepted, loved or forgiven. Since we can't often tell how other people will take our words and actions towards them, how are we to behave as children of God towards each other?

We should remember to try to live in such a way that our “Yes” be yes and our “No”, no. Since we only have one chance at this thing called “living life on earth” to serve God, each other and make an impact in this dark world, what kind of people ought we to be? We ought to learn to clothe ourselves with humility toward one another (1 Peter 5:5). We ought to live as servants of God, show proper respect to everyone and love the family of believers (1 Peter 2:16-17). We ought to live holy and godly lives as we look forward to the day of God to come (2 Peter 3:11-12). It is also God's will that by doing good we should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men, and not give occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme (1 Peter 2:15).

Don't we all know the golden rule that states that we should treat others the way we want to be treated? Do we reflect the light and are we the salt of the world the Holy Father created us to be? Are we aware that our lives are living epistles open to all to see the glorious character of the Father working in us? (2 Corinthians 3:2-3) Are we aware that we must behave in such a way to magnify and glorify Father in all that we do and say because we reap what we sow? (Galatians 6:7-10)

What happened to our family was a good occasion to remind self, teach and reinforce to the children some basic concepts about life. We learned that we should: (1) always endeavor to give others the benefits of doubt because we don't really know what goes on in someone else's mind; (2) learn not to hold on to resentments and always forgive; (3) think before we give our promises about anything we are not sure that we can keep or follow up properly; and (4) pray for God to provide healing, and more grace to love unselfishly when we feel wronged.

Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil for evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing (1 Peter 3:8-9; 1 Thessalonians 5:15). Therefore, if you have to do any good at all for others, it should start with those who belong to the family of believers.

Blessed are those who hear the Word of God and obey it! (Luke 11:28)

Marie Monaus