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Harmony's Dance
By: Mary Elder-Criss
“What I wouldn’t give for just a LITTLE peace and quiet around here!”
Peace is a commodity that is in extremely short supply in my home, although the demand for it is quite high, at least on my list. I often find myself at the end of my rope, muttering the above phrase through clenched teeth.
If peace indeed does flow like a river, then obviously someone built a dam and blocked the water’s course around here. Between my nineteen year old son’s bass guitar thumping, my twelve year old daughter’s CD player booming, and my eight year old daughter’s Game Cube shrieking, I seem to constantly be surrounded by NOISE. Throw in a husband and his vice, television, and four dogs continuously barking, and you have the makings for one overloaded sensory input board in this mother’s brain.
Although it does seem at times that there is no place in which I can turn to find an absence of clamor in my home, does this mean that I can not still have genuine serenity within? Although peace seems to be lacking in my household in the form of absence of sound, tranquility does reign in my heart.
It was not always so, as my household once was divided, step-father against son, son against step-father, brother against sister, sister against brother, and me attempting to be the referee of all. Discord and strife provided the notes to the underlying music in which this family danced. A house divided against a house falls. Luke 11:17b.
Peace only entered into my household when every family member came to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, and the Prince of Peace Himself transformed their lives. Selfish natures died, and the good of the whole family unit was instead put first. Previous battles were ended, old resentments were put aside, and spirits were yielded.
Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. James 3:18
Although we still face trying times, and believe me, there have been many since then, we have the peace within that can only come through a personal relationship with Christ. Although my household often sounds discordant, with an abundance of competing sounds, if you listen closely, underneath the entire clamor, you will discover a beautiful harmony that is conducted by the Prince of Peace, Himself.
It is the music to which my family now dances.
Copyright 2004
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