Proverbs 18: 19
A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city, and contentions are like the bars of a castle.
The ones who are closest to us, like in our own family, are the ones we wound most, and they us.
We don't expect much of a stranger, we are not vulnerable to them. But those in our own close circles we are the most vulnerable with, and the hurts we inflict upon one another cut deeply.
To heal those wounds and mend our relationships is a very difficult thing. It takes God's own wisdom and patience and compassion, and humility on our part.
And it could take a lot more time than we would expect. And consistency in our resolve to come to a resolution.
And it may not smooth out in this life; we have but a few days to live our lives before we face eternity, and it takes a miracle of God to mend these deeply cut wounds.
O my Father, please show me what I must do or refrain from doing to make amends to those I have wounded. Please work in their hearts and thoughts and spirits to draw them to Yourself, and reveal Your Truth to their understanding.
I know that I have often presented myself as the "expert" when I know that there is much I can learn from them. Teach me how to humble myself before them, to stay out of Your way in working on and in them.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus
