“Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. For, 'Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it.'"1 Peter 3:8-11

Like many families, my family members don’t always agree on everything. So, suffice it to say the last several years in politics, have been a learning, and growing experience.

For the majority of my life my family has, for the most part, held the same core values as mine. But something fanned the flames of our differences so hard, it lit a fire that at times burned so angrily and vicious, I needed to find distance from some family members that just couldn’t help but accost me with the latest horrible thing, “the other side” was doing.

Through my faith, God has taught me patience in navigating conversations, and how to steer away from deviousness to a positive place, and to remember to always appreciate, celebrate and above all love my family.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, please help families hurting from whatever may be dividing us. Help us to come together and remember the love and grace You give us always, and remind us to extend the same love and grace to each other. Jesus, please help heal wounds of discontent families may have with each other, restore our hearts with love and grace. Amen.