God…devises means so that he who is banished may not be an utter outcast from Him. – 2 Samual 14:14, Amplified Bible

My mother’s relationship with her mother was extremely adversarial. For most of the last thirty years of my grandmother’s life, she lived with my mother, but like oil and water, the two ladies never clicked. Finally, for the sake of my mother’s health, we had to remove Grandma from the house and place her in an apartment at a senior housing complex. Though painful at first, the separation proved a blessing, for it produced a humility in both women that led to a beautiful reconciliation. During the last two years of my grandmother’s life, my mother and grandmother enjoyed the mother-daughter relationship they had always lacked.

There are few things in life more painful than a broken relationship. Relationships are shattered for a variety of reasons, and pride can keep them shattered for years. When faced with such separation we ought to recall the words spoken to King David by the wise woman of Tekoah in 2 Samuel 14:14 (AMP):

We must all die; we are like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. And God does not take away life, but devises means so that he who is banished may not be an utter outcast from Him.

Life is short. We would do well to remember this truth so that we don’t miss opportunities to mend broken relationships. Just as God gave of Himself (by offering up Jesus) to mend our broken relationship with Him, we should reach out to try to restore broken relationships in our lives. Of course, there are no guarantees that the other people will accept our offer of reconciliation. But, at least we can rest in the knowledge that we did our part to try to make things right.

Bitterness reigns in broken relationships, and bitterness eats at the soul. Make the effort to restore both the soul and the broken relationship, and in return banish bitterness from your life.