Squabbles – What I’m Reading

“Brothers and sisters quarrel and squabble with one another. Parents intervene, try to sort things out, and generally restore order. What happens when order is not really restored but moves into a low grade resentment? Parents need to watch for more than outbreaks of hostilities. Many sins run a low fever and don’t attract the attention of a 104 degree fight. Such sins include things like envy, competition, taking offense, resentment, etc. On the opposing side of this, parental sins include favoritism or neglect. The low fever sins are those which necessitate that the children, when grown, will drift apart. This is the cause of many an adult ‘brother thing’ or ‘sister thing.’ This is one more area where parents must watch, pray, exhort, and teach.”  (My Life for Yours, p. 120)