What is a Peacemaker?
Reflections after reading Matthew 5:9
By Charlotte Robinson
For Lenten Prayers from the Heart

“Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.” Matthew 5:9 (NKJV)

Peacemaker, what does that even mean?
Being a negotiator?
Never experience conflict?
Emotions kept in check?
Everything and everybody stays in neutral? …

I don’t believe any of those characteristics listed are what Jesus was talking about or instructing us to be. Peacemaker, to me, means someone who can see all sides of a particular issue, seeing the “BIG” picture. It’s someone who has no agenda or loyalties to choose one side or the other. Being a peacemaker means seeing the good in everyone and exploiting that goodness. It’s facilitating all the good and downplaying the “not so good.” The challenge that keeps “peace” at bay is our inability to fix or change our differences, biases and conflicts. But what if we accept those things we differ on, and seek to find the things we can agree upon? After all, we ALL have purpose and value. Peacemakers are noble and valiant, and they are the children of God!

~Blessings and Peace~

 

Recently, I experienced an “Aha” moment. I found myself sharing moments about my life experiences not because I needed to but also not really because of a deep seeded desire to. There was no gain or loss motive to share, it was just sharing. It was a liberating realization that I have value and purpose not because of who I am or what I did or what I might do. Nope, my value is that God created me, He has plans for me and I have purpose. My “Aha” moment also revealed to me that I do not need to prove myself worthy to have friends or friendships, the epiphany that came to me was true friends don’t come with a price tag or warning label. My “Aha” moment gave me a very clear and concise message that I do not have to convince anyone to be my friend and neither do you! The cornerstones for the foundation of friendship include: honesty, trust, love and forgiveness. Face it, there’s not one single person who is great at all of these nor able to master all at the same time. For me, that’s where forgiveness comes in, unless you are just plain rude and cruel, no one sets out to hurt another person especially if you have a bond of friendship. This might be how “Murphy’s Law” comes into play…”Anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.” Life is about learning, changing and growing. We all stumble along the way, not only do we deserve to forgive ourselves we absolutely need to forgive others, otherwise it hangs around and clutter up our lives and keeps us from growing and moving forward. Forgiveness is not about letting the other person off the hook, it’s about freeing yourself of its burden. It’s giving friendship and love a fighting chance. Life truly is too short to be looking backwards all the time, hold onto the things that fill you and feed you, sometimes we have to let go of things and people in order to grow and heal, such things are difficult and should not be forgotten, always being thankful for the experience. I love this saying, “Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for a while, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never, ever the same” by Flavia Weedn.

~Peace and Blessings~

How easily we are swayed by the people and circumstances that surround us. Good, bad or indifferent, they make their marks upon us and in most cases find their way inside us where it hides from the outside world. Our ideation, values and self-confidence begins with our families, then from our friends, teachers and public figures. We all must be able to reconcile ourselves when we see our reflection in the mirror as well as our hearts. I believe that God has blessed each of us with very specific gifts and talents; however, we must be mindful to the paths we choose to take. We are all human, and with our humanness we are foul-able, our choices help us to grow and discern. I know all too well that fear can choke us and keep us from pursuing our hearts desire. I know for me fear wins all too often, I’m scared of rejection but this fear also keeps me from truth. Is it possible for me to experience love, or even participate in fleshly desires? I’m too scared to act because of rejection. I do not want to be seen as a fool and/or as someone reaching beyond their limitations.  The sad part is by taking no action I have already lost. Fear is a dictator and I want to move past this but I am too scared to try.

Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips. – Prov. 27:2

No Wants, No Desires – Know Wants, Know Desires:

“Say what you mean, mean what you say.”

Can you imagine what life would be like, if everyone lived by that simple statement? No more hurtful conversations, no need for apologies and our intentions would be transparent creating relationships build upon trust and confidence. No hidden agendas and hearts could do what they were created to be…filled with love, grace and mercy.

Living with integrity and intentional.

“Seeing clearer as if scales are falling from my eyes. ~Mary Hayes

You don’t have to be good at starting over just good at letting go.

“The only real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.”

“For one human being to love another; that is perhaps the most difficult of all our tasks…the work for which all other work is but preparation.” ~Rainer Marie Rilke

http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/us/2015/03/06/newday-ad-council-love-no-labels.cnn.html