Differences Of Opinion

1 Corinthians 4:10 – By the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ I appeal to all of you, my brothers, to agree in what you say, so that there will be no divisions among you.

A few minutes ago I received an e-mail message from one of our sons in which he exulted about finally getting a 50-cc Honda dirt bike dating back to the early 1970's. The background, he went on to say, was that many years ago he and I had test-driven one of these machines, and even now that event ranked up there "high on his list of memorable childhood events". Still, I had turned down his request for the cute little dirt bike and bought him a bicycle instead. In his e-mail today he volunteered that a bicycle for a 12-year-old kid was much more practical than a kiddy motorcycle. He concluded with the observation that it just goes to show that if you want some things, sometimes you have to get them yourself, even if it takes 26 years and you still have the bicycle.

It would have been easy for him to have held a grudge against his parents for those 26 years.

Decision-making by parents and patience required of children don't always mesh well, but differences of opinion perhaps shouldn't always be settled on what is practical. What is far more important is that both the decision-making and patience be rooted in love for one another. Understanding on the part of both parent and child is fundamental to our living in the love of God and can last for far more than 26 years.

Prayer: Eternal God, we thank you for the love and understanding in families that allows us to make and live with unpopular decisions, decisions made in practicality yet rooted in love. Amen.