Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Handling Sibling Rivalry....

So lately God has been teaching me about patience with those I'm closest too, and just living at peace with people, even when I don't feel like it. And I got to thinking about how it all relates to your future husband. I'll be the first to admit, I was a mean little kid growing up. I had (have) a horrible temper and I was just plain awful to my brother. My mom always told my I needed to be nicer to my brother, cuz how I treated him was how I would treat my future husband. It never really made much sense to me as a kid, I mean how could I be mean to someone I was in love with? But as I grew up, especially lately, I realized how true it is. I mean, I always try to be nice to my friends, and even though I fail sometimes, it's usually pretty easy. But I always struggle to be nice to my brother. I think I finally figured out why; it's because we are around each other ALL the time. Especially being homeschooled, we never got a break from each other. So I figured out that while sometimes my friends and I get on each others' nerves, we go home and have time to burn off steem and get a grip. I don't always have that with my brother. I know I'm not making much sense hear. Essentially what I'm trying to say is, one day when I get married I will be around my husband all the time, and eventually we're gonna get on each others' nerves. If I don't practice restraint and learn to deal with my problems in a calm way now, I can't expect to do that with my future husband.

I know I'm not the only one who deals with this. Everybody has sibling rivalry, it's just a part of life. But what I really want you to get today is you need to practice restraint. You need to deal with your sibling differences in a healthy manner- not only because it prepares you for a healthy relationship with your future husband, but because the Bible commands it. I'll leave you with these verses...

"If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." -Romans 12:18

"Do everything without complaining or arguing." -Philippians 2:14

Love, Kat

5 comments:

Katherine said...

Great post! I struggle with the same thing! I totally agree with every word, literally!

Thanks and Blessings,
Katherine

Anonymous said...

That is hilarious that you posted this tonight! I Just posted a blog on the exact same thing! Awesome!
I agree completely with what you said!

Anonymous said...

That was amazing and so true!! I struggle with the sme things too. I am very high spirited I guess you could say and that is something I have to constantly strive to do better.

Anonymous said...

Katherine and Ashley- Thanks! And I pray that God will give you strength and discernment in dealing with your siblings!

A Hopeful Romantic- hahaha! That's awesome! You know what they say about great minds! ;)

Pen of Honor said...

I also would concur with everything said. I feel like I'm intruding a little upon an area perhaps only meant for women, but I was just passing through, and I agree completely with what was said. It is an excellent, and very real point. In fact, I can testify that it is worth the effort. I am the youngest of five, and needless to say, things were not always rainbows and buttercups between us. Rivalries were mostly drawn up between myself and the youngest of my two sisters, four years older than me. For quite some time, we both held extensive ill-will for each other, to put it gently. Being the more mature one, my sister recognized earlier the damage this could do in the long run, and began to make the effort to restore our relationship. Eventually I got the idea, and after MUCH struggle, and work, we became very close. Indeed, I think I can say that no one knows my sister as well as I do, and she with me as well. It is truly a miracle, that God did in us, and the blessing has been tremendous. This was a joy to hear, and I pray we will always continue to love one another, willing to lay down our lives for our enemies, let alone our family! God bless!