Harmonizing Together
- Caitlin Barbee
- Feb 7
- 3 min read
“We don’t need to think exactly alike-God made each of us with unique personalities-but we do need to operate in every area of our lives with harmony in mind.”
“I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.” 1 Corinthians 1:10 (NLT)
My best friend and I are VERY different. She grew up on an organic farm way before it was cool and spends most of her days planning and preparing her family’s deliciously elaborate dinners at home, while reusing everything from plastic wrap to food scraps. I, on the other hand, HATE figuring out the answer to my least favorite question, “What’s for dinner?” and have a paper product problem for which there should be a support group. She is my sister in Christ, and that is pretty much where our commonalities end, but I couldn’t imagine navigating life without her. This is how I see Paul explaining harmony in the Corinthian church to his fellow siblings in Christ in the above scripture.
Anything that can be decisive is ripe for being so in our culture today. And NEVER is that more obvious than in parenting. I remember being pregnant with my first son and reading book after blog after magazine convincing me a certain method was THE ONLY way to get your child to eat, sleep, etc. Then I would pick up the next book that would tell me the EXACT OPPOSITE of whatever I had just finished reading! After a while, I scrapped it all, and instead, called upon my sisters in Christ for their help instead. I took some advice, and left some advice, but I knew I was free to do so in their love.
Paul is not telling us we can’t have differing opinions on matters; on the contrary, that is what makes a community vulnerable and willing to learn from each other. We don’t need to think exactly alike-God made each of us with unique personalities-but we do need to operate in every area of our lives with harmony in mind. I am no music student, but I love the quote that you can’t sing harmony alone. It isn’t what God intended for any of His children, and never is it more important than in the blessed, but often lonely and isolated road of motherhood.
So let us be watchful with our thoughts and words so as not to create division among any of our people, be they family, friends, church, or online communities. I never want to be the reason someone is “not interested” in Jesus, so allow this thought to temper all that you say and do, especially with people that think differently than you.
Action Step:
You may ask yourself how avoiding division is even possible, but this is an easy one, and the answer is right in the scripture! We can only do these things “by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Period. We don’t have the will, the strength, or the restraint to navigate division alone, and the good news is we were never meant to. Rejoice in that amazing truth today!
Prayer: Father God, I can’t thank You enough for giving us other moms to walk this blessed but oh so difficult road of motherhood with. You know we are too prideful, too selfish, too HUMAN to figure this out for ourselves, so You give us Your Holy Spirit to intervene for us. Help us to trust You with all of our divisions and never let us take for granted all You are willing to do on our behalf. We love You and we praise You always, amen.
Written by Caitlin, mom of 2 boys