Loving Life Newsletter Winter/Spring 2018 Winter/Spring 2018 | Page 12

RELATIONSHIPS:
BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS
By Dr. Monica Greene-Smalls
(reprinted from 2013)
Think about your relationships with friends, family,
coworkers, and church members. Can you identify
who tends to play the role of “peacemaker” in those
relationships? If you tend to get upset, annoyed, or angry
easily, feel that you must always express your point of
view, and believe that your perspective is always right,
then you probably do not play this role very often.
In Matthew 5:9, Jesus teaches us, “Blessed are the
peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” In
other words, the more you strive for peace and harmony
in your relationships, the more you are expressing God’s
true will and are striving to be like Jesus. This can be a
challenge for those who are not peacemakers by nature.
It requires that you stop and think BEFORE you act or
respond. To use a phrase from years ago, ask yourself,
“What would Jesus do?” “If it is possible, as much as
depends on you, live peaceably with all men” (Romans
12:18).
In addition to drawing you closer to God’s will, there is
another benefit of striving for peace in your relationships.
Specifically, the “peacemakers” in your lives will get a
break! Playing the role of peacemaker and doing one’s
best to “not be weary in well doing” (Galatians 6:9) can
take its toll on the peacemakers mentally, emotionally,
physically, and spiritually. You may have no idea of
how much of a burden that habitual peacemakers bear
because often only God knows what’s really on their
hearts and minds.
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In fact, while you may think of peacemakers in an
active role of mediating between conflicting parties,
peacemakers actually spend a great deal of time serving
as “peacekeepers.” They are the ones who may also
become upset, annoyed, or angry, but will not express
it for the sake of “keeping the peace.” They may have a
completely different point of view and believe that their
opinion is the right one, but will not state it for the sake
of “keeping the peace.” They are much more strategic
in choosing their battles in the interest of avoiding an
ongoing war.
Make an effort to not only consider the peacemakers
and peacekeepers in your life, but also make a conscious
decision to play the role of peacemaker or peacekeeper
more frequently. Such actions will not only enhance your
relationships and relieve some of the burdens carried
by the peacemakers and peacekeepers in your life, but
you will be blessed by lining up with God’s word. “But the
wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable,
gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits,
without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit
of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make
peace” (James 3:17:18).
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