I read an article in the periodical Psychology Today about adult sibling relationships. The article stated that while few adult siblings have severed their ties completely, more than 1/3 of them who were surveyed describe their relationship as rivalrous or distant. Some responded that they do not get along with their sibling or have very little in common, that they do not spend much time together. Some of them used words like "competitive," "humiliating," and "hurtful" to describe their relationships both as children and adults. Old conflicts and old hurts often prevent them from maturing in their relationships as they become adult and prevent them from seeing each other in a new light. Siblings know how to push each others buttons and get under each other’s skin.
As we hear about Joseph and his brothers today, of the way Joseph was betrayed by his brothers, may we think about the jealousies, envies, and grudges that we may be holding onto in our own lives. Through our Lenten disciplines, may we look at ways to build bridges, mend relationships, and get past old hurts.
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