Day 17 – Peace

Matthew 5:9 says it all. “Blessed are the peace makers, for they shall be called sons of God.” I will add “daughters of God.”

Scott Erickson in Honest Advent describes two different types of governments. “You can destroy everyone who has differing opinions about your way – eradicating all innate agency and uniqueness found in the world—and end up with a government based on the rule of compliance and the threat of shameful destruction,” what he calls, “A kingdom of fear” (134).

Or, on the other hand, he says, “You can love the hell out of everyone by eternally offering your naked vulnerable self as a loving way that overcomes fear, selfishness, greed and death…” (134).

That is certainly peace, if it overcomes fear, selfishness, greed, and even death itself.

Meet my late mother, Hazel Jones Manning, who lived over 98 years and raised six children. Hers was not a kingdom of fear, but a tiny piece of the kingdom of heaven.

I was the middle child. As Pastor Devo said when he found out I was the middle child, that tells you a lot about me. Multiply what you know about me times six kids and you will see why Mom was a fantastic peacemaker.

My mother’s favorite text was Psalms 34:14, “Seek peace and pursue it.” And that’s what she did her whole life.

When anyone would ask her how she lived so long and was able to babysit for all six kids and keep peace with all her six kids and grandchildren, she would respond, “I spend a lot of time on my knees.”

James 3:18 says, “Those who make peace sow the seeds of justice by their peaceful acts.” My mother “made peace” on her knees. Prayer was a peaceful act for her, a way of sowing the seeds of justice among her children.

To this son of hers, she is the personification of a “peacemaker and daughter of God.”

I say “Thank you Mom” for bringing peace to our family and to all your friends, as you truly were a natural peacemaker and daughter of God!

May we each seek that same loving way, the one that overcomes fear and even death itself.