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Day Five

When You Disagree with Other Moms

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12:1-26; Colossians 3:13

Thankfully, there is no other mom who thinks exactly like you. Unfortunately, this means at some point you will disagree with other moms. But God does not call you and me to be the same. In fact, Paul highlights the beauty of diversity in his letters. Each member of the body doing its different thing, as we read in 1 Corinthians 12. The key is navigating how to maintain unity in the midst of difference.

So often conflicts are worked out through social media or text conversations instead of in person, which leads to misunderstandings and hurt feelings. I need to see your eyeballs. I need you to sense my warmth and love for you if we are going to have a conversation. 

I also need to be aware of how I might be misunderstanding the situation—this is something I’m still learning! When I find myself in a conflict with a friend (or having yucky feelings), I stop and ask myself, “Am I assuming the best or the worst of my friend?” Here are some false narratives I’ve thought based on a friend’s actions: 

She didn’t call me back because she’s mad at me. 

She never goes to lunch with me because she doesn’t like me. 

She didn’t make the effort to say “hi” to me at the party because I’m not important to her. 

Here’s the reality: 

She didn’t call me back because her life is as full as mine. 

She went to lunch with someone else because that person invited her. Doesn’t mean she wouldn’t also go to lunch with me if I reached out. 

She never made her way over to say “hi” at the party because she had to leave early to pick up her son from a football game. 

How would our mom friendships be impacted if instead of criticism of someone else’s approach to parenting, we engaged the conversation with curiosity? If instead of assuming the worst of her in a particular situation, we became more aware of the false narratives we were believing? If instead of assuming one of us was right and one was wrong, we took the opportunity to notice how God made each of His children differently—and we can celebrate that diversity!

Consider your current friendships. Are there a variety of gifts, perspectives, and interests represented? What could you do to expand the diversity in your friend group?