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Broken relationships create all kinds of problems, whether they are work relationships, family relationships or even a casual friend. How should we deal with broken or wounded or toxic relationships?
A woman told me that she couldn’t take part in her family’s Christmas celebration as usual, because her brother would be there and she is not speaking to her brother any longer. A friend of mine is in the midst of a broken marriage relationship now, a marriage of over thirty years. It’s not her fault that the relationship is broken, and she is doing all she can to repair it. But her pain has been palpable.
Another friend was “downsized” from an organization and she felt the decision was extremely unfair. It came from people she had trusted as friends. But now that work relationship is severed and it has caused an on-going rift between her and the management she once respected.
Think of the broken relationships in your own world, whether they are yours personally or those you are aware of. Consider the ripple effect that broken and hurting relationships have, not only on the people directly involved, but inevitably on many others as well.
Are we doomed to have to live with these broken relationships? What is our duty and responsibility in trying to mend a broken relationship?
Jesus’ “Fix” for Broken Relationships
Consider what Jesus taught us to do when a relationship has been broken or wounded.
“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift” (Matthew 5:23-24).
Jesus said that mending broken relationships takes priority over religious activities and duties. Jesus taught us that mending broken relationships has a very high priority.
If you have a broken relationship in your life, what could you do to begin the healing process?