My husband and I have temporarily taken in two of our sons due to injuries that were brought upon them, both physically and emotionally (one suffered a badly broken foot, one a badly broken relationship). They will both be okay, so this is only for a couple weeks. It’s been a bit chaotic, but it’s also been a joy for us to bond with both of them…and to see them bond with each other. They had been living hundreds of miles apart before and now are under one roof. Our roof. My newly retired husband and I were previously living in peaceful bliss…as empty nesters for the past several years. So we wondered (and stressed a bit)…how would all this work out? Ha! We are already seeing that God works in mysterious ways…
Sibling Rivalries
We have a blended family of five kids (three sons, two daughters), now all adults, and five beautiful grandchildren. When our kids were all “blended” under our roof for the first time, his two and my three, they were ages 12 through 20. They were actually our wedding party! But blending, as many parents with stepkids know, can be a rough-and-tumble process at times…stirred, shaken, grated, crumbled…before a smooth mix results. Add some more cubes (aka spouses, significant others, etc.) and the process whirs again. And part of this blending involves sibling rivalries. Actually, these occurred before the blending process even began. Look at the Bible and you’ll see sibling rivalries, and all of their inherent relational fallouts of envy, anger, stealing, lying…and forgiveness, healing, bonding and love: Jacob and Esau, Isaac and Ishmael, Joseph and his brothers…and among women too…Sarah and Hagar, Rachael and Leah, Mary and Martha. But in the beginning, the most famous and devastating of all sibling rivalries involved Cain and Abel.
In Bible Times
The messages from all of these biblical stories…which we can still relate to today…are many. Take for example, Cain and Abel. We learn that envy is a deadly sin. Comparing ourselves to others can kill our souls, kill relationships, even kill people. One doesn’t have to look too far to see how social media reflects (and sometimes causes) an increase in suicides, fighting, division, all due to comparison, competition, jealousy…which usually stem from the chief deadly sin of pride. Yet God sent his only son, Jesus, to die for all of our sins and to shed a new light on our human flaws, teaching us how to not only be more just and obedient, but how to show each other grace.
In Today’s World
We continue to benefit from reading the Bible, especially Jesus’ teachings, which apply today. In making the movie, Envious Son, we hope to spread this message: Justice Changes Behavior, Grace Changes Lives. To show God’s mercy through the Old Testament story, and Jesus’ teachings in the New Testament. In this modern-day retelling, adapted from my bestselling novel, The Jealous Son, we not only see the original dysfunctional family in action after the “fall” from paradise, we see how generational human behavior has a fallout…but how redemption and hope are always available.
Dear Lord, help us all to give each other grace, mercy, and brotherly (and sisterly!) love. Amen.
