“Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.”
-1 Peter 3:8-9
What would it look like if we were like-minded? I used to think that in order to be like-minded, everyone would need to simply agree with me. I thought that would be great. My husband would stop wearing shoes in the house, my kids would keep their rooms clean, work would go much more smoothly, and life would be so much better in general!
Then I read Peter’s words about being about being sympathetic, loving, compassionate, and humble. I realized these actions are directed at me! He is not telling everyone to be like me! The emphasis to be like-minded starts with me. To be relational, I must strive to find the common ground with those around me. Then I can approach situations with more sympathy, love, compassion, and humility.
I began to see that my husband wore his shoes in the house because he was rushing to get the keys inside between mowing the grass and taking the kids to their PTO meeting. I saw that the kids’ room is a mess because they came home from school, did homework, got ready for dance and went to dance, only to get home tried and hungry with a few minutes before bedtime. I began to see how others at work have the best intentions and often bring in their own baggage from their lives. These realizations help me to be more relational as I become more sympathetic, loving, compassionate and humble. Being like-minded in my relationships starts with me.
How can you strive to be more like-minded with those around you?
Author: Carrie Hubert
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