Blessed are the peacemakers…(Matthew 5:9)

In his book entitled The Secrets of Happiness, Billy Graham relates the story of two deacons who quarreled over an old line fence; they had not spoken to each other for a long time. One of them, wanting make peace, took his Bible and went to visit his neighbor. Handing his Bible to his “old enemy,” he said, “John, you read and I’ll pray. We need to resolve this and rekindle our friendship.”

But John, fumbling for his glasses, said, “But I can’t read. I don’t have my spectacles.”

“Take mine,” said the peace-loving neighbor.

After they had read the Word and prayed together, they arose and embraced each other. John handed back the glasses his neighbor had given him to use and said through his tears, “Jim, that old fence line looks different through your glasses.”

When we have the peace of God, we can see things through “the other person’s glasses,” and by doing that, we can make peace.

God of healing, may we be willing to see the view that others see in order to bring healing to our relationships!