Keeping The Peace

Keeping the Peace

Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.

As I sat in the kitchen one afternoon, I overheard my daughter Jasmine talking to a friend on the phone. My daughter’s whispered agreement and then not-so-very-nice comment about another girl in their class caught my ear. As she hung up, I asked if I could speak with her.

When I questioned Jasmine about the unkind comment she had made, I told her I was surprised, since it was out of character for my usually tenderhearted girl to talk ill of someone else. She shrugged her shoulders and with sorrowful eyes told me about some conflicts that had arisen between the girls in her class. Two of her friends had gotten into a fight, and one of them had told my daughter that she shouldn’t be friends with the other girl anymore.

This was the same girl who, while on the phone, made unkind comments about the other. Jasmine felt pressure to join in, offering her own, albeit weak, unkind statement. As I sat and listened to her explanation of events, I saw immediate remorse in my daughter’s eyes. I told her that I could relate to her and what she was going through, and that most of us have been in a similar situation at some point in our lives. We then went on to talk about friendship and boundaries and how she could be respectful while still advocating to be friends with both girls. We also discussed how joining in with another in talking behind someone else’s back is never okay. We talked about the qualities of what makes a good friend: honesty, love, and kindness. We ended our talk by praying for both girls and for Jasmine to have wisdom in handling the situation.

Navigating friendship at any age can be a challenge. It can be difficult for any of us to offer support while not engaging in gossip or taking sides in relationships. We are reminded in Scripture to do all that we can to choose peace over discord. This is vital to having healthy friendships.

— Kendra

— Today’s Act of Friendship —

When given the opportunity, choose to be a peacemaker among your friends.