With holidays come family gatherings. This can be both a blessing and a burden when relatives do not share the Christian vision of equality among God’s people. How should you react when inappropriate comments or jokes are made during these celebrations?

    1.  Invoke the Holy Spirit. The key to this is to pray for the wisdom of the Holy Spirit before you find yourself in the situation. Ask for the courage to defend the respect of all our brothers and sisters in Christ.

    2.  Gentleness. Patience. Faith. Meditate on these three fruits of the Holy Spirit and how to utilize them for God’s purpose. Gentleness as you approach the discussion. Patience as you listen and then as you address the issue. Faith that God will use you for good.

    3.  Seek to have the conversation as privately as possible. If confronted with an audience, you risk putting the individual on the defensive and the truth will be lost in the defense of pride.

    4.  Let go and let God. Trust the Holy Spirit’s words to flow through you and speak to the individual’s soul – then let God work.

We are called to hold each other accountable to God’s teaching in Genesis 1:26 – we are ALL made in the image of God. Trust God’s faithfulness and the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, then enjoy your family time.