Today is National Reconciliation Day, a day to mend fences and restore relationships. How ironic that it follows April Fool’s Day, a day when the practical jokes may have gone too far and created some of these relationship fractures. The irony, though, is much deeper than that.
Esther Pauline “Eppie” Lederer was a famous newspaper columnist. While we probably don’t recognize Eppie, we certainly recognize her pseudonym: Ann Landers. Her Ask Ann Landers column appeared in newspapers all across the country for 56 years. However, there was a glitch that was about to happen.
Eppie had a twin sister named Pauline Esther “PoPo” Phillips. Eppie and PoPo became estranged from each other for many years. The cause of their bitter disagreement and separation was simple. PoPo saw her sister’s success and wanted a piece of the action for herself. PoPo started writing her own advice column, better known to the world as Dear Abby. Abigail Van Buren was the pseudonym PoPo chose and this competing column caused two sisters to be angry with each other and to separate for many years.
In 1989, Ann Landers received a letter and wrote a response to someone dealing with a broken relationship. It was at that time that Ann Landers encouraged people to designate this day as the day to mend those fences. In 1964, Eppie and PoPo met and resolved some of their differences. However, the feud was never fully settled. It seems that two sisters never took their own advice.
Esther Pauline “Eppie” Lederer died in 2002. Her sister, Pauline Esther “PoPo” Phillips, died in 2013.
It is sad that the reconciliation advice wasn’t taken. To see sisters fighting with each other even though they were doing the same work and having success is a tragedy. They could have worked together, combined their efforts, and enjoyed even greater success. Instead, the rift kept growing and kept them apart.
In Scripture, we have two women, sisters in the Lord, who had some sort of disagreement. The Lord didn’t see fit to tell us the details of their squabble which is exactly how it should be. It’s nobody’s business. But it needed to be addressed because it must have been affecting the church of Philippi.
Philippians 4:2-3 says, “I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord. (3) And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.”
Both women are doing the Lord’s work. They are both valued by Paul. They have shared the Gospel. And now, what should have been a team has turned into two solo acts running at odds with each other. They were the predecessors to Ann Landers and Abigail Van Buren! What’s the solution?
Paul said be of the same mind in the Lord. He didn’t say, “Euodias, think more like Syntyche” or “Syntyche, think more like Euodias.” Paul said, “be of the mind of Christ.” When we have issues with our brothers and sisters, it’s usually because they weren’t thinking like us, and it rubbed us the wrong way. The solution, dear Christian, is for us to think like JESUS and let Him lead us.
Now, what is a church supposed to do when some members of the family are having issues? Paul didn’t say, “Take sides!” He said, “HELP them.” Help them pull together. Help them in the work. We could add, “love them, encourage them, support them, and do everything we can to help them reconcile rather than driving the wedge deeper.”
Brothers and sisters. Family. Reconcile quickly with each other. The unity and harmony of the family of God depends on it.
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