Sibling Rivalry: How to deal

Gen. 50:17 ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept.

Have you experienced your kids fighting needlessly? Over what?

Over familiarity. Desire to be first, to be noticed, to have a bigger share.

I experienced a lot of this with my brother Ariel. Oh yes, Pastor Ariel Marquez of Victory Alabang is my Brother (for those who do not know).

Growing up, we share one big bed.

Big Mistake.

From Grade school to High School we have to endure each other every night. Grrrrr!

I thought about it now having kids, it produces so much unnecessary irritations. Most especially to my brother. My brother will wake up in the morning embracing my feet. Sometimes I feel (in the middle of the night) he's pushing me out of the bed, cause I moving from a 12 'o clock sleeping position to 3 to 7 o'clock postion and he's all mad because he is getting so little a space for himself.

One time he was dreaming that he was embracing his girlfriend only to find out its my right foot. Yikes!

One time I got all the bed covers for myself...wow.... BIG FIGHT!

There's a lot of things to quarrel about. Who gets the perfect egg on the breakfast table, the new shoes from the states, the new English leather cologne from dad, who's going to use the car this Saturday night, who's staying to watch the house, who will clean the dishes this time... etc.... a lot...

Dilemma: who's the referee when things go wrong?

I love my dad. He was so kind and loving --- but he never get to resolve our petty squabbles.

Therefore, we have to settle things in our local court: "Our room", "Our way".

But I am so glad that was the past, we have resolved many unresolved bed fights already. Being a Christian now, (and a Pastor for heaven's sake) we can forgive each other from these silly fights.

shifting gears...
Parents need to be aware when our kids are in this condition. Irritations are inevitable.

My question: In your family, who resets the button when squabbles happen? Who mediates the fights? Who judges ? Do you watch over the hearts of your kids? Do they trust a fair, legal system at home? Do your kids fight a lot? Do you teach your kids to reset the buttons of forgiveness? Is peace a big thing in your home?

Good news.
God is a fair judge. God never sleeps. He is always on the look out to make sure each one fulfill his destiny. We can learn from Him.

Lesson:
1. Trust God.
2. Forgive.
3. Expect less, Love more.

By teaching kids to trust, they move on faster to the next learning destination.

Forgive. Release. Live life.