Being a peacemaker is therefore sufficient reason for being called a child of God. We will quickly find this reasonable when we think about what is required to be a peacemaker. On the basis of the saying, “Two big men do not fit in a barrel,” we can well understand that we must be small in ourselves to be able to be a peacemaker. If you want to be great, there will soon be someone who wants to contend for your rank, resulting in strife. There is always someone who does not think your standing is right, and there is always something or someone in the way for such a person. On the other hand, if you are small in your own eyes, there is no one who has anything against it; no one will contend for your rank, and no one is in his way. Such a person has peace and is peaceable wherever he is. This also applies to a person who is without demands, when he requires little or nothing for himself. Then he also makes peace, for no one has anything against it. In this way he is also peaceable wherever he goes. When a person is as flexible and pliable, supple and agile as Abraham was toward Lot (for example) when their herdsmen argued about the pastures, then a person is a peacemaker. If you are conceited, the result is usually strife, for there are always others who also know it best, who also think they are smart. But if you want to be stupid—small and stupid—you can always be at peace, without running the risk of someone wanting to contend for your position. When you want to be neither great nor have much, there is nothing to make a fuss about!! Then there is no one who is in your way!! Then you are humble and meek of heart and have learned from Jesus Christ.Elias Aslaksen