What does Peter teach us about harmony?

I love to sing, and there is nothing better than a sweet harmony! It is sometimes difficult to pick out the right part, especially for me, because my range is drastically limited than what it used to be. However, when the group finds all the pieces to the right chord - my oh my how it can bring a chill up the spine and a tear to the eye!

Peter teaches us a little about harmony in 1 Peter 3. We are to be harmonious with our spouse as taught in the first 7 verses, but then he extends that teaching on to everyone. In the New American Standard Bible the phrase is "all of you". As you've probably noticed from these posts, I'm a curious person. I like to find out the meaning of things and go search out the truth when I am perplexed. Just to be sure that I understood what "all of you" meant, I went to blueletterbible.org to check out the Interlinear/Concordance. There's no hidden meaning on this one! "All of you" is a transliteration "pas" in Greek. It means...wait for it..."each, every, any, all, the whole, everyone, all things, everything." So, are husbands and wives the only ones who should get along and be submissive to one another? Nope! That is all of our job with everyone, including those who mistreat us and those may be or feel like enemies.

How do we know the enemies part? Well, let's look at verse 9

not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.

I don't know too many friends who would return evil for evil, so I'm going to read that as an enemy providing that kind of feedback. Additionally read through to verse 14a

But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness you are blessed.

On Monday, I shared on Facebook that I would write briefly about being a stepmom. Sometimes being a stepmom feels very much like being in enemy territory. I don't know how many stepmom's are reading this right now, but I want you to know that in my opinion, you have one of the most difficult jobs of all! Maybe I'm just recounting my war wounds, but in the best of circumstances, it was one of the hardest jobs I ever had.

As a stepmom, you are stuck between trying to do what is best for the child, all the while knowing that he/she doesn't want you to "be their mom." No matter how hard you try to be a friend, when the child is small, there are times when discipline is needed too. In my case, much of the time early on, I was the person home with the child the most. His dad was working 50 hours per week not including his commute. I was working part-time at my husband's request in order to be there for his son. There were often weeks when the child's mom would be working and need us to take on extra days of care. So, here I was trying to raise a child who didn't really want me to raise him. To say there was conflict is an understatement! There were tears from him, me, and his dad. There were disagreements up and down the family chain. I was doing the best I could with this 5 year old, but man was it hard! The crazy thing is, it never really got easier. There were years when the conflict would calm down, then there were seasons that I was perceived as the wicked stepmother and it was conflict nonstop. Most often, I felt like I couldn't win for losing.

Do I have regrets - you bet! I would venture to guess there is not a caregiver of any type who does not have regrets. Did I try to do what was right and in the best interest of the child and the whole family - you bet! Can I say that our home was harmonious - well, sometimes - but definitely not all the time. Did we try to accomplish harmony - definitely, yes!

I can say that despite all of the conflict and stormy seasons - I'm starting to see light! I am starting to see an adult child who perhaps does appreciate the effort I made even though there were plenty of

flaws. This year I received a text message from said stepson who is now 22 years old telling me Happy Mother's Day. This was the first time ever, and I am so thankful!

I write all of this to say - hold on! Keep doing good even if it is ill received. Keep doing what you know is right even if everyone else disagrees. Keep doing what you think is in the best interest of your family and children no matter how they are part of your family. You might suffer in the moment, but you will receive a blessing eventually.

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