June Is Family: Women's Daily Devotional, #6

By Sparrow Brooks

A new Bible verse and devotional about family and relationships through God's love for each day of the month!

Start your day off right each morning by studying God's word. Grab your Bible and this new devotional, get cozy, and take a few quiet moments with the Lord to get your day off on the right foot. Or end your day snuggled in bed while you let God speak to your heart.

Each day of the month begins with a Bible verse on the topic of family, followed by a personal story from author Sparrow Brooks and how she interprets this verse in her real life. She ends each devotion with questions to ask yourself and a focus for the day.

June is a time when we really concentrate on our family. Most years, this is when school is out for summer, we are planning vacations, and we really have time to slow down and think about those we love most. Use this time to let God speak to your heart about how you can truly appreciate your family members and grow your relationships with them through God's word..

With 30 days dedicated to family and relationships, this devotional is perfect any time of the year!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sparrow Brooks
• Release date: Feb 11, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224382309

Book preview

June 1

So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Matthew 7:12

For most of us, the Golden Rule has been ingrained in our brains since we were small children. I remember learning it in Sunday school when I was young. It wasn’t always easy to follow, though. I grew up with an older brother. Until I was ten, there were just the two of us. We got along sometimes, but a lot of the time we argued and fought.

I think we drove my mother crazy with our arguing and bickering. I remember one time, I was sitting outside on the front steps with the neighbors when my brother and I got into it over something. I was probably in first or second grade at the time, and he was three years older than me. I said something he didn’t like, and he hit me pretty hard on the leg. I screamed. My mom came out, and he got in trouble.

It hurt--it really did. My brother swore he didn’t hit me that hard, but he was never one to hold back. Still, to save face, as soon as my brother had gotten his punishment, I told my friends it didn’t really hurt.

Well, my mom overheard that, and I ended up getting in trouble, too, even though it really had hurt. I was so mad! Not only had I gotten punched in the leg, my friends had to go home, and I had to go to my room. I was so mad at my brother, I just wanted to go punch him in the leg.

I realized something that day, though, and I think that was the beginning of a change for us. It occurred to me that in any sort of physical fight, my brother was always going to win. He was bigger than me, certainly stronger than me, and he knew how to get my mom to take his side most of the time, too. From that day forward, I decided to embrace the Golden Rule and try not to fight with my brother anymore.

Did I always follow that rule? Nope. But I was better about it.

Now that I’m a grown up, I have to think about the Golden Rule in totally different situations than I did when I was a kid fighting with my brother. I bet you can relate to some of the same situations I’m thinking of. Like when you’re online and someone makes a snarky remark. You can choose to get into a heated discussion or keep scrolling. You can choose to assume they’re having a bad day, you don't have all of the information, or you’re taking it wrong--or let it ruin your day.

How about when you’re in traffic and someone cuts you off or otherwise does something rude. You can give them the benefit of the doubt and let them go on with the same grace you'd hope someone would afford to you. Or you can get angry and shout something you’ll regret later.

What about when you’re at the store and someone seems to think all of the items on the shelf are theirs to pour over instead of just grabbing something and moving aside? I’ve been there--wanting to say Excuse me really rudely. Instead, it’s better to assume they’re having trouble finding something specific and being patient or offering to help.

Hopefully, as adults, we aren’t going around punching each other in the leg. But we still have to choose the Golden Rule on a daily basis, both with strangers and with our own family. Maybe your husband didn’t take out the trash because he had an important phone call. Maybe your daughter forgot to take her laundry upstairs because she was planning your birthday present. Or maybe they just enjoy driving us crazy. Either way, a little grace can go a long way in every situation, and when we practice the Golden Rule, we’re choosing to relate to our family, friends, and strangers through kindness instead of reacting in anger which is never the best choice.

Today, take some time to reflect on the Golden Rule and how you can apply it in your own life. Who needs your grace today? What relationships can you strengthen through taking the high road?

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June 2

"If either of