Every year the same vicious cycle repeats itself, or at least it has for the past decade plus. We travel as a family north from San Francisco and link up with old friends. After indulging in far to much brochette, pesto, and fresh salad, Malcolm Jr. pulls out the Pictionary game. What follows is baffling as witnesses struggle to describe something that includes teamwork like a family, competition, frustration, arguments, and outright loving relationships. After a male dominated victory, of course, the final act of caring is a paper-wad fight that seems to never end.
Of course, you are hearing a man’s side of the story. The men have faced “24×7” cheating from the women’s side of the table for years. I do not think I was 100% sure that somehow, under our watchful eyes, they, the women, had figured out how to bend the rules, but one of their leading players admitted as much this year. Clearly, this was a call to all out war.
We gave in when we should. We compromised when we did not need to. We rolled weak dice when only the best would do. We fought with each other. We ridiculed our teammate’s ability to draw. In short, we lost.
The battle in between had all the elements for a long running feud. In the end we were laughing, filing away special long-john drawings for memory stories to come, and chatting about the future. Something special was happening.
“Hatred starts fights, but love pulls a quilt over the bickering.” (Proverbs 10.12)
Everyday there are issues that can break our relationships. We struggle to live life, pay the bills, and get tasks accomplished. In the midst of all this, people do us wrong. Most want to bury the hatred. Others acknowledge, respond, and move on together. Last night I saw a father and son, family, and group of friends do just that and a miracle happened before our eyes.
Responding to situations as God responds to us always brings out the best in others and ourselves. Today is a 24×7 opportunity.
