Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. – Matthew 5:9

Right now inside me is a war, each day I wake up and it’s a struggle. I’m taking baby steps to move forward and cling to each breath I breath. God is good, even in this bad time, but I now my soul yearns for peace.
Peace makers are a special breed of people, because they don’t walk off half cocked and start needless and empty wars. A peace maker is always trying to find a way for redemption, looking for a path where all parties can sit at the same table.
When we seek peace, we seek for a restoration of humanity, where all members have mutual respect.  Peace doesn’t mean that there isn’t disagreement, but it does mean there isn’t conflict.

Often in life we are pressed into retaliation, like when a $220 Million Dollar Global Hawk Drone is shot down trying to protect ships.   There is justification for war, there is a reason to retaliate, to fight back.  But in the end, the peacemaker counts the cost, and says the price of retaliation isn’t worth the destruction of human life.  That’s honorable.

I’ve created a lot of conflict in my family and in my life,  we are dealing with a war to end all wars.   I said things, sarcastic things, things that hurt, and I know I’m wrong.   The problem was,  I didn’t pull back the troops.  I didn’t call off the airstrike that would have killed people who were not involved with the initial attack. I haven’t had the heart of a peacemaker.

The reward of a peacemaker is they are called, children of God.  They are first identified as to their relationship with God the Father, and they are counted as His children.  What an honor.

Lord, I surrender, I’m putting up my hands, I put down my weapons of war.   I seek peace.   I know you are teaching me how to be a peacemaker, how to hate bitter conflict that tears souls apart.  The war of words have consequences.  My desire was not to create peace but conflict in my home, and that was wrong.  Forgive me for being harsh, bitter, resentful, and create in me a heart of a peacemaker.

Picture by Sunyu