Maybe you’ve noticed that most Friday’s I try to do something fun, or light for my post. I can’t do that today. I need to do a short follow up on yesterday’s post. I have received some private feedback on my post from yesterday.  One comment was that the post had hit him right in the face. He said he had not told his mother-in-law she would never see her grandchildren again, but he had thought it might come to that. He thanked me for helping him see how damaging that could be.

Another thing I’d like to mention seems obvious to me, but I know it is human tendency to dodge fault, so let me clear up any misunderstanding you may have built in self-defense. Just because I gave the example of the daughter-in-law saying you will never see your grandkids again that doesn’t mean I’m out to get daughter-in-laws. Anyone involved in a relationship that pits one “side” against another needs to think about what I wrote. The only side I’m taking is the side of love, and love will make it possible to get the differences worked out so a family can stay together, and grow in love.

Love will never demand, or even ask for a choice to be made as to who your favorite is. Do you love me more than you other granddad? Does your other aunt give you things like this? You know your daddy doesn’t love you as much as I do. Any type of question, statement, or insinuation that pits one against another in family relationships is damaging, not loving, and at the very core it is selfishness in action.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. I Cor.13:4-7 (NIV)

Till next time,

Grump