“Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.” ~Proverbs 17:8

In our family we like to say, “If you look for yellow Volkswagens, you will see yellow Volkswagens.” Likewise, if we look for faults in those we love, we will certainly succeed in finding them, and the more we dwell on those grievances, the more angst we create in the relationship. And the more angst we create in the relationship, the more tension and conflict we have in the home. And the more tension and conflict we have in our home, the less we will want to be there. And the less we want to be there, the quicker we check out altogether.

Let’s ask God for the supernatural ability to be quick to forgive and to have minds that are set on what’s working, on grateful thoughts and not on the nit-picky stuff.

Our Father,

Thank you that you are not a critical Father, but a loving one. Yes, you chide and discipline those you love, but your kindness is what leads me to change. May kindness and forgiveness be what my family sees in me, how they acclaim me one day at my funeral, and what they strive to emulate with their own lives and legacies. I love you and I want to love like you love. But I can’t will myself to change. I need your transformational power at work in the depths of who I am. I receive that gift today.

Amen