I recently had a close friend and mentor reference MT 5:9 as he advised me in an area of my life. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God (NIV). When I was reminded of this powerful verse, I was reminded of what the world is like and what this world needs. The role of a peacemaker is needed in many areas of life. Peacemakers are desperately needed for this world.
We live in a world driven by pride and motivated by defensiveness. We have a world marked by greed that drives most business and health care delivery. We have a world driven by lust that craves addiction in all areas. We also have an amazing world marked by a vast array of languages, cultures, traditions, and beauty. Unfortunately, this beauty is also marked by relationship division at all levels. Fear and control drives divorce, division, insecurity, trafficking, power, and suppression. In all of this, we have conflict at every level including in churches, in families, and in every relationship dynamic. People are quick to point out where the other person is wrong. People are quick to file lawsuits out of vengeance. People are quick to overreact and argue their points. In debates, we live in a world where listening, valuing and restating the other person’s point of view occurs so infrequently. Instead, the mission, even if this is not explicitly stated, is often to argue, engage in fault-finding, look for evidence that confirms what we believe without considering alternative viewpoints (i.e. empathy and compassion), and look to win and prove “I’m right.” The world has needed peacemakers and my Mom remains a genuine peacemaker.
One of my mother’s gifts is perfect for what this world needs. She is a true peacemaker. My Mom has many skills, attributes, and creative talents. Since her retirement from Allstate Insurance, she has used her creativity to manage a creative card business and is beginning to venture out in building doll houses for girls. Her creative and artistic talents have no limits. As a grandmother of 13, she thrives in maintaining her connections and adapting to the ever-changing technology world while connecting with her families in Florida, Tennessee, Illinois, and Colorado.
Today, I honor Mom for being a genuine peacemaker. Mom grew up with an opinionated Italian labor union leader from Chicago. Her late husband was a decisive independent thinker with an uncanny ability to provide clarity without holding back his point of view. I have fond memories of summers spent in my grandfather’s summer home on Lake Autrain in the upper peninsula of Michigan. While we enjoyed the sunsets, beach time and the peacefulness of fishing and water activities, there was no shortage of opinions exulted between the men in Mom’s life. Mom had somehow mastered being a peacemaker. While sometimes it was obvious that the heated discussions needed a break, Mom was a master at noticing and redirecting as needed. This required a peacemaker!
One of Mom’s many skills that utilized her peacemaking ability over the years was delivering both good and bad news. When all is lost in a house fire, Mom was there when people needed her the most as a peacemaker - calming the fears when people are at their lowest moments. And sometimes, if a house fire was started on purpose with obvious evidence discovered by the fire department, she provided the facts and the “bad news” (i.e. not covered under policy). As you can imagine, a master peacemaker is needed in those situations as well.
The world is devoid of peacemakers and my Mom is one of a kind, she is a genuine peacemaker that this world needs. Today, we honor Patricia Sentman for being a PEACEMAKER! Happy Birthday Mom!
We live in a world driven by pride and motivated by defensiveness. We have a world marked by greed that drives most business and health care delivery. We have a world driven by lust that craves addiction in all areas. We also have an amazing world marked by a vast array of languages, cultures, traditions, and beauty. Unfortunately, this beauty is also marked by relationship division at all levels. Fear and control drives divorce, division, insecurity, trafficking, power, and suppression. In all of this, we have conflict at every level including in churches, in families, and in every relationship dynamic. People are quick to point out where the other person is wrong. People are quick to file lawsuits out of vengeance. People are quick to overreact and argue their points. In debates, we live in a world where listening, valuing and restating the other person’s point of view occurs so infrequently. Instead, the mission, even if this is not explicitly stated, is often to argue, engage in fault-finding, look for evidence that confirms what we believe without considering alternative viewpoints (i.e. empathy and compassion), and look to win and prove “I’m right.” The world has needed peacemakers and my Mom remains a genuine peacemaker.
One of my mother’s gifts is perfect for what this world needs. She is a true peacemaker. My Mom has many skills, attributes, and creative talents. Since her retirement from Allstate Insurance, she has used her creativity to manage a creative card business and is beginning to venture out in building doll houses for girls. Her creative and artistic talents have no limits. As a grandmother of 13, she thrives in maintaining her connections and adapting to the ever-changing technology world while connecting with her families in Florida, Tennessee, Illinois, and Colorado.
Today, I honor Mom for being a genuine peacemaker. Mom grew up with an opinionated Italian labor union leader from Chicago. Her late husband was a decisive independent thinker with an uncanny ability to provide clarity without holding back his point of view. I have fond memories of summers spent in my grandfather’s summer home on Lake Autrain in the upper peninsula of Michigan. While we enjoyed the sunsets, beach time and the peacefulness of fishing and water activities, there was no shortage of opinions exulted between the men in Mom’s life. Mom had somehow mastered being a peacemaker. While sometimes it was obvious that the heated discussions needed a break, Mom was a master at noticing and redirecting as needed. This required a peacemaker!
One of Mom’s many skills that utilized her peacemaking ability over the years was delivering both good and bad news. When all is lost in a house fire, Mom was there when people needed her the most as a peacemaker - calming the fears when people are at their lowest moments. And sometimes, if a house fire was started on purpose with obvious evidence discovered by the fire department, she provided the facts and the “bad news” (i.e. not covered under policy). As you can imagine, a master peacemaker is needed in those situations as well.
The world is devoid of peacemakers and my Mom is one of a kind, she is a genuine peacemaker that this world needs. Today, we honor Patricia Sentman for being a PEACEMAKER! Happy Birthday Mom!
