DON’T BLAME ME

     Daisy had been looking forward to getting some after Christmas shopping in and the day after Christmas she headed to the mall. She had no idea what she was going to buy but she knew she had to get some shopping in with all those after Christmas sales. As she walked by the food court she couldn't help but notice the Miller twins sitting with their backs to each other.

     “Did you have a good Christmas, Mindy?” Daisy asked as walking over to the girls. “NO!” Mindy said with a scowl. “You didn't?” Daisy asked. “How could I with you know who around.” Mindy snapped while pointing to her sister. “It’s all her fault and she’s trying to blame me for it.”

     “It is not my fault.!” Cindy shouted and gave her sister a shove, “It was your idea.” “Was not, you liar!” Mindy yelled back while returning her sister's shove. “My sister indeed..” “Well, Cindy snapped back, “She would probably be a better sister than you!” Not wanting a fight to break out Daisy intervened asking them “What is going on here?”

     “I told you. “ Mindy said, “It's her fault.” “Don't believe her.” Cindy interrupted, “It's her fault.” “What is?” Daisy demanded “She came up with the idea to get Stella out of the hospital.” Mindy said, “It's her fault.” “It was your idea to dress her up like one of us.” Cindy retorted, “So it's your fault.”

     “Well, it was your clothes we used.” Mindy said. “It was your make up.” Cindy returned. “But why in the world did you help Stella escape?” Daisy asked. “She's our friend.” Mindy said. “And we wanted to help her.” Cindy added.

     “Where is Stella now?” Daisy asked. “In the hospital.” Cindy said looking at the floor. “And she had to miss Christmas.” Mindy added. “Is Harold still in the hospital?” Daisy asked next. “No.” Mindy said, “He got to go home.” “But Stella had to stay because she wasn’t there when she needed to be.”

     “Sounds like your plan didn't work, did it.” Daisy said. “And it's all her fault that it didn't.” Mindy said “It was not, It was your fault!” Cindy countered. “Was not!” Mindy said raising her voice. “Was too” Cindy returned raising her voice as well. And the next thing Daisy knew Mindy and Cindy were screaming at each other “WAS NOT! WAS TOO!”

     “Alright you two.” Daisy interrupted, “That's enough” “Fine!” Mindy said, “By the way have you seen my husband Joseph? We are suppose to be going to Bethlehem.” “What did you say Mindy?” Daisy asked not expecting that kind of a response. “Mindy?” Mindy said, “I'm Mary.” “Oh no!” Daisy said, “She's got the disease. Cindy, quick, you need to get your sister to the hospital. She’s got whatever Stella had.”

     “Help her?” Cindy scoffed, “No Way. Besides, I need to go find my brother Moses.” “Joseph! Joseph!” Mindy hollered, “ I think it’s time to have a baby.” And then both Mindy and Cindy took off in opposite directions. “Oh, no!” Daisy said again, I need to find the mall security, those girls need to be caught.”

     Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan. - Genesis 12:1,5 (ESV)

     Abram did as God told him but it wasn't long before strife broke out. And just like Mindy and Cindy, there was likely pushing and shoving and arguing and.... well, let's see what happened.

      So Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had, and Lot with him, into the Negeb. Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. And he journeyed on from the Negeb as far as Bethel to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, to the place where he had made an altar at the first. And there Abram called upon the name of the LORD. And Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks and herds and tents, so that the land could not support both of them dwelling together; for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together, and there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram's livestock and the herdsmen of Lot's livestock. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were dwelling in the land. Then Abram said to Lot, "Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen. Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right, or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left." And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, in the direction of Zoar. So Lot chose for himself all the Jordan Valley, and Lot journeyed east. Thus they separated from each other. Abram settled in the land of Canaan, while Lot settled among the cities of the valley and moved his tent as far as Sodom. Now the men of Sodom were wicked, great sinners against the LORD. The LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him, "Lift up your eyes and look from the place where you are, northward and southward and eastward and westward, for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever. I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted. Arise, walk through the length and the breadth of the land, for I will give it to you." So Abram moved his tent and came and settled by the oaks of Mamre, which are at Hebron, and there he built an altar to the LORD.

Genesis 13:1-18 (ESV)

     Strife is something that should be frowned upon and we are warned of such in the Bible.

• Proverbs 3:30 Don’t accuse anyone without cause, when he has done you no harm. (HCSB)
• Proverbs 25:8 Don’t take a matter to court hastily. Otherwise, what will you do afterwards if your opponent humiliates you? (HCSB)
• Proverbs 26:20 Without wood, fire goes out; without a gossip, conflict dies down. (HCSB)

     Here's how we should be living

• Romans 12:16,18 Live in harmony with each other. Don't try to act important, but enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don't think you know it all! Do your part to live in peace with everyone, as much as possible. (NLT)
• Philippians 2:3 Don't be selfish; don't live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. (NLT)

     Here's Something To Ponder

• In what ways do you cause strife?
• In what ways do you bring about harmony?