Ephesians 4:1-3 English Standard Version
1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Yesterday’s blog ended with a question about understanding where our parent’s traditions might have started. While pondering those thoughts it became evident that each couple brings their own set of experiences into a new marriage. Those experiences do not always align themselves perfectly.
For the sake of the marriage compromises might be the result. Insisting on one’s own traditions over our spouse places them in a position of forced submission. That puts a strain on the relationship which is unjustified.
Romans 14:5 English Standard Version (ESV) One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.
Being convince in one’s own mind does not imply that we should insist on having things our own way.
1 Corinthians 13:5 says that love does not insist on having its own way. We should go one step further in full knowledge of this and not allow our countenance to reflect displeasure in our compromises. That would make others uncomfortable without just cause.
We need only explain our position to those who need to know for the sake of relationship.
The offspring of these marriages deserve to know the position of the parents without insisting that they make a choice between the parents. They should be allowed to choose for themselves. It may end up that with full understanding and the freedom to choose for themselves, they might not choose either of their parent’s traditions.
Traditions are not as important as loving relationships.