Jesus, there are days like today when SIL is withdrawn and appears sullen (although that may not be accurate), that I don’t want to be around her. But those are the days she probably needs me to be around her the most. God, grant me the grace to do what’s best for SIL regardless the cost to my flesh.

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Luke 6:35

God, You loved me when I was at my worst; You died for me before I turned to You. Help me to remember You have done the same for SIL. Tell her that You love her when she’s withdrawn as much as when she’s engaged with the people around her. You died for her regardless of her behavior and attitude. You are kind to her always. Help me to have the same mind set as You.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility, count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not to his own interests but also to the interests of others. Have this in mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Philippians 2:3-8

Lord, help me to do nothing out my own self-centeredness but humbly count SIL more significant than me. Let me look to her interests as well as my own. Even though I was created in Your image, help me to not count being treated as such a thing to be grasped, insisted on, but rather empty myself by obediently serving SIL, even if it kills me.

In Your Loving Name,

Amen