Yesterday afternoon I had a very intense session with a family. I was asked to facilitate this session for them due to their inability to keep it civil on their own. The reasons behind the family meeting were intense and I thought it would go well, we only needed solid ground rules. Little did I know just how intense the feelings were within each family member. It only took about 10 mins to know this was not going to work at all. I asked the two kids to take a seat outside the room and asked the parents to stay. We came to an agreement that until the parents were unified themselves, we wouldn’t bring the kids into the picture. I had thought the parents were together, but….

I had prayed asking Jesus to take the lead in this session just as I ask with each of them. I trusted this would be the case. At the end of it I felt somewhat whipped. It wasn’t until this morning when I was journaling about it I realized that Jesus’ presence doesn’t dissolve conflict. Good grief, there is world-wide conflict going on centered around Jesus and His presence. I had presumed way too much about what I had been asked to do for this family. This session only allowed me to see the truth behind the message I’d been given. Jesus is definitely working and I just needed to see much more clearly where I was to fit into this situation. 

I write all of this because my own lesson from this is what most of us have heard many times. When we assume, it only makes an ass out of u and me. (breaking the word assume apart–pardon my language here). I know better than to assume, but I hadn’t asked all of the right questions to the adults ahead of time. I’ve needed to learn this lesson more than once, but today, I see clearly my mistake. Thank You Jesus for your faithfulness and PRESENCE!