One of my favorite pastimes is people watching. Whether I’m in an airport or on a park bench. I love watching people interact with each other. Whether it’s the old married couple shuffling down the street hand in hand, a group of friends window shopping, or a pack of teenagers wondering what to do next, it’s fun to watch people simply be themselves with each other.
Images like these remind me that relationships are one of the greatest gifts God gives us. We were designed from the beginning to live in relationship not only with God but also with each other. Yet I’ve learned relationships aren’t easy. Sometimes they get messy. Miscommunication occurs. Misunderstandings happen. Mistakes are made.
Before we know it, a relationship we celebrated and treasured falls apart.
In high school, I had a dear friend, that I’ll call Carly. We were best friends. We did everything together. She was the kind of friend where you could just look at each other and know what the other person is thinking without ever saying a word.
Our friendship remained strong until after college, when we had a huge blow up over something small. I don’t even remember all the details, but this precious, treasured friendship fell apart. We lost touch. The years passed.
One day I was discussing the whole messiness of relationships with another friend. And she said something I’ve never forgotten. She said, “Margaret, it’s not like you can go get another friend who was your best friend in high school, who you have 15 years of history, of memories, and experiences together tomorrow. Those don’t come around every day.”
Those words were like ice water across my face.
What had I done?
What I had let go of?
How had I lost sight of what was truly important?
In all of our lives, we have relationships where love goes right and where love goes wrong. We have relationships both romantic and non-romantic, where things just go right. You click or connect. You can share your thoughts, fears, and innermost desires. You become BFF’s and learn to love each other in the midst of life’s ups and downs.
But we also have relationships, like mine with Carly, where love goes wrong. There’s a difference of opinion, a major falling out happens, and we discover that the relationship that began well doesn’t always finish well.
This is true not only in our romantic relationships and our everyday friendships but also in our relationship with God.
I took the words of my friend to heart.
I couldn’t just go get another friend with whom I shared 15 years of history, memories, and experiences tomorrow. I knew those kinds of friends only come around a limited number of times in an entire lifetime. So I began sending emails, cards, and notes. I began picking up the phone and asking her to grab a bite to eat. We began reconnecting. It was slow at first, as trust was rebuilt but over the last two years, I’ve seen that relationship blossom again, and I am so grateful.
I want this relationship to finish well.
Here are four things you must-know before you read Genesis 24-27:
In Genesis 25:23, the Lord tells Rebekah that “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.” The prophesy is not only fulfilled throughout the history of Israel, but even during the birth of Christ. Herod was a descendant of Esau.
Did you know? Jacob’s name sounds like the word “cheat” in Hebrew.
Jacob knows that with the birthright comes responsibility, the role of protecting and leading the family. But when you’re the grandchild of Abraham, the birthright comes with something else: the promises of God! Remember in Abraham’s family, he who gets the birthright gets the covenant. This is high stakes!
My prayer for you is that God will give you the strength and courage to choose wisely today so that you may finish well, like Abraham, blessed and loved by God and those who know you best.
