“Love each other as I have loved you. This is what I am commanding you to do.” John 15:12 (GW)
We can’t always choose our closest relationships. We can’t choose our parents or our children or who they become. We have very little control in many of our relationships. However, we can choose how we view them and what we do with them.
We can consider how God sees our close relationships. All people are made in God’s image. Each one is a unique expression of God’s glory and goodness. Our loved ones (and ourselves) have unique value to God and should have a unique value to us also. If our loved ones love God, then our loved ones are God’s sons and daughters. Our spouses and children are God’s children. Our spouse, children, and parents are more of a relation to God than they are to us.
Consider: How does God see your spouse, your children, your parents, or co-workers? In light of God’s view, adjust your view.