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Esther sat on the edge of her bed, fuming. Her sister always got her into trouble. It wasn’t fair!
Esther’s mom appeared in the doorway. “Are you feeling calmer now?” she asked.
“It wasn’t my fault,” Esther complained. “I was just trying to paint, and Hannah stole my brush! She always does that. Then you sent me to my room. You always take her side!”
Esther’s mother sighed. “I sent you to your room because you girls were hurting each other.” Then she paused. “You think I always take your sister’s side?”
“Of course you do!” Esther said. “She’s the baby. You like her best!”
Esther’s mom sat down next to her. “Oh honey, I don’t like either of you best. I love both of you 100%. Sure I treat you differently. But that’s because you’re different ages. You need different things. Your younger sister needs more hand-holding. You need practice working things out on your own. And I expect different behavior from you because you’re older. But my love isn’t uneven. I love you all the way, all of the time. Both of you.”
When brothers and sisters fight, the real cause is sometimes fighting for mom or dad’s attention or even who the kids think loves them best. One kid gets more lap time, and the other feels unloved. Or one kid gets help with homework, and the other feels lack of attention. These things change based on each kid’s age and ability, but it’s not a sign of how much you’re loved. Parents love children 100%.
Abraham knew that his father loved him. That’s why he didn’t have to fight with Lot. Abraham trusted God to look out for him. His faith that God loved him gave him strength to end the fight. Abraham let Lot have what Lot needed. God made sure Abraham got what Abraham needed.
Try This: Next time you feel not loved, ask for exactly what you need. Say “Mom, I need a hug,” or “Dad, I need attention.” Or stand in the middle of the room and yell, “WHO LOVES ME?” See what happens.
Prayer: God, thank you for loving me 100%. I love you too. Help me let my siblings get what they need and trust you that I’ll get what I need too. Amen.
For More: a reflection to deepen your understanding of God’s love.
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About this Plan
"Don't fight with your brother!" "Don't fight with your sister!" Sibling rivalry is as old as the Bible. Thankfully, the Bible can also teach siblings how to work together. Parents and kids, read this plan together, or listen in the car on the way to school. You’ll gain perspective from the ancient story of Abraham and Lot, and from modern siblings just like you.
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Image by Dmitry Naumov / Shutterstock.com. We would like to thank the Theology of Work Project for providing this plan. For more information, please visit: www.theologyofwork.org/devotions
