Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Colossians 3:12-14
Dear Lord Jesus, I don’t think there’s any passage in any translation of the Bible that uses the image of “walking on egg shells,” to describe one of the ways we broken sinners often relate to one another. But I’m glad there’s repentance and grace for this, and every other soul-sucking, crazy-making relational dance. As a people made for deep intimacy and selfless caring, sin sure has done a number on our relationships.
Here’s my prayer, Jesus. As someone chosen in you before the world began… holy in you… and dearly loved by you, help me realize when others experience me as a mine-field of irritability… or a self-righteous porcupine… or a rigid control-meister. I don’t want to be the kind of person that makes others feel the need to tippy-toe around or avoid me. Through the resources of the gospel, help me to see, own and deal with the things that make it easy for people not to feel at ease in my company.
My need doesn’t stop there, Jesus. I’m also guilty of being on the other end of this broken style of relating—of treating others as too fragile or too dangerous to handle feedback or conflict. When I fall into this pattern it simply reveals how little of your love I’m currently enjoying and how little of the power of the gospel is presently at work in my life.
Jesus, you’ve forgiven me everything. You forbear with me through all things. Never let me forget this for a nanosecond. Daily, sometimes hourly, remind me to put on the garments of your grace… kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Along with a lot of my friends, I long for the Day of complete wholeness and health—when every one of my relationships will reflect the joy, peace, and intimacy of the Trinity. Until that Day, “giveth more grace” to these yet-to-be-glorified hearts of ours, Jesus. So very Amen, I pray, in your kind and persistent name.