Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. (James 3:18)

“Whew! Finished planting my garden,” said Angie, wiping sweat from her eyes. “Can’t wait to feast on fresh veggies all summer!” She set her seed basket on the counter and went for a drink of water. Jed peered inside the basket. “Is that what you planted?” He held up a few burrs. “These are stickers. You planted sticker bushes!” Angie set her empty glass down. “So what? They’re so tiny, all dried up. I think with some good watering and lots of sunshine, they’ll produce what I want them to.”

As dumb as that sounds, we do the same thing in our personal lives. We sow stickers like anger, criticism, and gossip, and expect to harvest peace, love, and joy. Peacemakers who sow kindness, encouragement, and forgiveness find that they reap good things. However, a peacemaker is NOT an enabler. Peacemakers don’t let others trample their boundaries or give in to get along. They can be strong leaders, unwavering in their values and choices, but they find common ground with those who disagree with them. They are quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger (1:19). Peacemakers present truth in creative ways that bring understanding to tense situations. Since we harvest what we sow, peacemakers reap healthy relationships.

Final Thought: Are you reaping healthy relationships and personal peace? What are you sowing? (Galatians 6:8)

Prayer: Father, I have struggled with hurt feelings and broken relationships and I never knew why. Maybe this is the reason.  What am I sowing into my family, church, and work environments? Teach me how to be a peacemaker. In Jesus, name, Amen.