Jerome is a 28-year-old guy who’s a die-hard Miami Dolphins fan. He’s been that way since he was five, not because Miami is his hometown, but because when he was five, he loved dolphins and when he saw the helmet, he was all in for life. He wouldn’t be a Jets fan. He hates the Jets. That’s just how our favorites work. Favorites make us human. We make binary choices as we get older. We might start out in neutral, but we never stay that way. Chocolate or Vanilla, Cadillacs or Lincolns, Macs or PCs, boxers, or briefs—favorites define who we are. But in families, favorites devastate.

Favoritism weaves through the story of Jacob and Esau. The stage is set from the start. Mom and Dad (Isaac and Rebekah) both choose their pick of the litter. Isaac preferred Esau. Rebekah preferred Jacob. They promised, doted, conspired, and deceived to give their favorite son the upper hand.

Favoritism weaves through the story of Jacob and Esau. The stage is set from the start. Mom and Dad (Isaac and Rebekah) both choose their pick of the litter. Isaac preferred Esau. Rebekah preferred Jacob. They promised, doted, conspired, and deceived to give their favorite son the upper hand.”

Your family of origin may have been like the family of Isaac and Rebekah, it may not have instilled positive practices, but families teach us some of our greatest lessons and reveal some of our greatest shortcomings. It is through our families we should learn how to love one another.

The post NAVIGATING FAMILY CONFLICT: Isaac and Rebekah – Family Favorites (YOU-Fall’24, Study 2, Session 3) appeared first on YOU.