being that instrument of peace....

I just read someone's Facebook status, then another's and they all follow the same theme: how can you and I be an instrument of peace? Some folks think I am referring to stopping wars in another country, or taking up arms within our own, but that is NOT the case! To be an instrument...an instrument is something that is used with care, it produces a fine melody when it is played right. Think of a child learning the violin...OUCH! But in the hands of an expert, ahhhh...wonderful melodies! So it is with us. We all are guilty of using words and situations that can make or break another person. All it takes is a look, a glance, a comment and you have just caused someone to pass that feeling along, for good or for bad. Wonderful melodies make us feel good, it makes us happy, it takes us away from whatever pain we are involved with, versus a child's attempts at playing, which can make us moody and irritable and then what? Then we take it out on someone else!

A friend of mine is going through a breakup from someone who had vowed he would be there forever. Yet when strife hit and health problems came to the forefront, this "friend" took off, unable to cope with the responsibilities. The actions of that person has left ripples that will extend far and wide. To be an instrument of peace requires that we walk in the shoes of another. We don't make comments that will cause hurt, we treat others as we would be treated, we sympathize, even when we don't really want to and we apologize even when we don't feel we need to. We smile at others even if we are hurting ourselves. We extend friendship through something as simple as holding open a door or giving someone a smile. We take ourselves from our own comfort zones and do for someone else. We stick with those who are hurting, not running from them but going to them and offering friendship. Life has its struggles, but we don't need to make it harder by being difficult. We want peace for others, then peace will come to us as well.

an instrument of peace....let peace begin with me...let this be the moment now!