A: Dear Tendai,

I understand its hard sometimes to get along with brothers and sisters. I have 5 brothers, 2 sisters, 2 step-brothers and 2 step-sisters. The first thing we need to is ask Jesus to help us to be kind and loving and thoughtful. The Bible tells us to “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32). When we remember how kind and forgiving God has been to us when we were bad, it will help us to treat others the same.

But just because we treat others kind doesn’t mean they will treat us kind, too. This is why we need to ask Jesus for patience when people are unkind to us. Jesus said “But I tell you, don’t stand up against an evil person. If someone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other cheek also. If someone wants to sue you in court and take your shirt, let him have your coat also. If someone forces you to go with him one mile, go with him two miles. If a person asks you for something, give it to him. Don’t refuse to give to someone who wants to borrow from you. You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor ?? and hate your enemies.’ But I say to you, love your enemies. Pray for those who hurt you. "If you do this, you will be true children of your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:39-45, NCV). This means when someone is mean to you, don’t be mean back to them. Instead, be kind, just as God is kind to us.

And finally, we need to remember to always pray for our brothers and sisters that Jesus will help them to be kind to others, too. When we show others the love of Jesus, even our brothers and sisters, it will have a softening effect on their hearts and help them to be more loving, too.

Your friend, Pastor Howard