Peace

It’s simply amazing to me how one person, one attitude, can change the entire environment around them. It can be at a workplace, at a school, at a church or even just in our home. And, unfortunately, it often seems like negativity, criticism and frustrations often seem to overwhelm the atmosphere of a place easier than more positive dynamics.
I know at my house, too often, I feel like I need to squelch negativity and criticism, especially at the dinner table. Now that may have something to do with my cooking, but it’s also the mentality that is brought to the table. And it’s crazy to me that it only takes a little whining or one complaint to get the rest of the kids to join in the chorus. Once in a while there will be a countering voice but often, it seems, I have to stop it before it starts getting too out of hand.
And that can be true for just about any situation, any dynamic, any relationship or any place. When just one or two people bring negativity or criticism it reverberates through the rest of us. And it’s often just natural to join in the negativity and the criticism. Sometimes, though, we’re just too afraid to say something even when we know the conversation or situation is going down a bad path. We worry what others might think or say about us, then, if we try to redirect the thoughts or the environment around us.
But that’s especially important for what Paul writes to us in Ephesians 4.29 to be careful what words we use and our role in redirecting situations. He writes, “Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed, so that what you say will do good to those who hear you.” (GNT)
I think those words can be especially helpful as we near Christmas, as we gather with people we might not see on a regular basis or we return back to our family of origin. Sometimes, it seems, we can easily revert back to childhood or old habits when we are surrounded by certain people. And this might be especially true when we get together with people we feel a little more comfortable with, too.
And so my prayer for us, is the same as St. Francis of Assisi’s below and that we can create a more positive, loving environment this Christmas season and bring peace on earth, as much as possible, just as the angels declared on that first Christmas. “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy.” God bless.