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I’ve seen an inordinate number of articles abt how to argue over politics & culture w/your family during your holiday visits. There’s a purpose in it. To keep families broken, the adversary has to maintain your outrage every moment. Love & forgiveness must be far from your mind.
There’s an easier way for him to achieve his goals than convincing us that true things are not. He only has to convince us that we don’t want true things. If you hate your family, you don’t want to be w/them forever. You won’t learn what that bond means or pursue it for yourself.
If you hate your family, you won’t pursue eternal covenants or understand the organization of heaven, who our Father is, the bond you have w/ the family of mankind. You won’t take risks or work at relationships. You’ll be isolated in the echo chamber of your own head.
The holidays when you gather with family are a huge risk to satan’s plan. He needs you to arrive prepared for battle, grounded in your pride & interested only in defending the sacred cow of your own feelings & opinions. He needs you to seek their defeat instead of connection.
If at any moment, sitting there together in front of the Christmas tree, affection or forgiveness slips through, a year’s worth of carefully-collected resentment could melt away. The barricades we construct from worldly clutter may collapse. The love of Christ may be remembered.
Granted, we will not see eye to eye with everyone in the family. But Christ’s command to love one another applies equally to those with whom we bump elbows over dinner. Love your siblings as Christ loved you. Forgive Dad as Christ forgives you. Lift Mom as Christ has lifted you.
Help your ailing grandma as Christ has helped you. Look past your uncle’s flaws the way Christ has looked past yours. Consider your own imperfection before God rather than collecting grievances against others. Be a healer of hearts in your family, as Christ has healed you.
Not every family situation is healthy enough for sustained or regular visits. It’s okay not to put yourself in an abusive situation, ever. If you have such a family, pray for them. Pray that your heart may heal & you can find forgiveness. The Lord understands.
In such case, there are other ways to gain family experience. You can embrace a relationship with other healthy families. You can observe families that you wish to emulate in your own life. You can study the gospel & pray for healing & guidance.
You can determine to practice gospel principles in the home you establish for yourself. You can learn about the nature of our heavenly family, our Father and Mother, our brother Jesus Christ, & all the spirit siblings you connect with every day.
In other cases, give your blood relatives the same consideration you would a friend or even a stranger. Arrive this Christmas determined to be open in love, not armed for a culture war. Love one another, as Christ has loved you. Build relationships that you want to last forever.
