January 7 – Love Each Other

If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should love his brother also. 1 John 4:20-21

Sibling rivalry can be pretty intense. I remember having fights with my brothers where hair pulling was involved--my hair…and someone’s fist going into a door—not a good sight. And then fighting with my sister involved pinching—I probably still have scars on my arms—but I deserved them after my sharp tongue spoke words that hurt her. Fighting drove us apart…and brought us together. We learned to stand up for each other. Love your siblings and show that by example to your children. Kids pick up on the slightest hints, “I’m not speaking to so and so.” Squabbling is just different with adults—no knock down drag out punches. 

My husband is an only child, but he shows love for his cousins probably just as much as I do for my own siblings. This has created a unique bond between cousins, their offspring and my daughter, who has never even met these cousins of hers in person. OK—Facebook has helped, too. We’re hoping that maybe this summer they can actually meet face to face! God loves each of these siblings and cousins—and He has created in them a love for each other. My parents taught me that we’ll have friends that may come and go…but we’ll always have our siblings. Family is important. They are “forever.” Well—now that my sister has gone to be with the Lord, and my folks, too, I have friends who are “forever,” just like the family that I still have surrounding me. Even without this “commandment” I love my brothers and sisters-in-law…and I pray that my grandchildren will stay as close to their siblings as I am to mine. It is so precious to see the grandkiddos giving each other a sweet kiss on the cheek—hopefully they still will love each other in another ten or twenty years! 

Training Tip – Be a good example. Show the love of God to your siblings—so that your children will learn by your example to love their family—as well as the family of God.

Lord – help us all to be true to you…no lying or fighting. Show us how to love each other the way that You love us—unconditionally.

All scripture quoted from the New American Standard Bible (NASB) unless otherwise noted.

© 2013 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.