Daily Encouragement for the Smart Stepfamilyமாதிரி

Connected by Grace

No matter how you’re connected to a stepfamily—whether you’re a grandparent, a stepsibling, a stepparent, or just a step-uncle-in-law—I want you to remember this: grace connects, but possessiveness divides. 

You know, the essential story of a stepfamily is someone leaving and someone joining a family. And whenever this happens, even under the best of circumstances, parents and kids feel some degree of insecurity. Unfortunately, that insecurity tempts us to become possessive—to pull some people towards us and to push others away. But our jealousy and possessiveness create division and conflict among family members. It also promotes resentment toward us.

What brings peace is a spirit of grace, especially toward people we don’t know very well. Stepchildren to stepparents; stepsibling to stepsibling; former wife to new wife. 

So remember the grace that God has lavished on you, then turn around and freely offer it to others.

Lord, remove any spirit of possessiveness from our family. Help us be grace-filled in all our interactions with each other.

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© 2018 by FamilyLife. Excerpted with permission from Daily Encouragement for the Smart Stepfamily by Ron L. Deal with Dianne Neal Matthews, Bethany House Publishers. Get more daily encouragement with this 365-day devotional that will keep your family blending and bonding throughout the year.