Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude. Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing

1 Peter 3:8-9

In spite of the almost constant back and forth between my grandsons, I am sure of this – they do love each other and they depend on each other quite a bit as well. With that said, they could apply Peter’s wisdom from the verses above.

Part of loving one another is being sympathetic toward the other person even if they lash out at you. Peter reminds us to resist the urge to “repay evil for evil” or “retaliate with insults when people insult you.” How hard is it to resist the desire to hit back with a timely retort?

Instead of retaliation, Peter tells us to respond with a blessing. Why? Because God has called us to do just that and Peter quotes from the Psalms –

“If you want to enjoy life
    and see many happy days,
keep your tongue from speaking evil
    and your lips from telling lies.
Turn away from evil and do good.
    Search for peace, and work to maintain it.
The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right,
    and his ears are open to their prayers.
But the Lord turns his face
    against those who do evil.”

Psalm 34: 12-16

“Search for peace, and work to maintain it”