Relationship Status
For many, the holiday season is a time for gathering with loved ones, eating lots of good food, watching football and relaxing. For others, this time of year can be very difficult by inflicting a multitude of emotions. I have found that there is one thing, in particular, that makes this time of year special and fun for some yet, for others, makes this time of year dreadful. That one thing is the status of our relationships. This season has a tendency to make strained relationships even more stained, yet it makes good relationships even more joyous. All the festivities and fun of this time of year makes life great if your relationships are all good but for so many, there are relationships that are consider, not good. So, what do you do if, unfortunately, you have relationships in your life that are not good? First, don’t go into it with a bad attitude thinking it’s destined to be horrible time if you happen to be invited to same activity. If you think it’s going to be bad, it probably will be bad because you’re expecting it and of course, you what to be right! Second, remember that often we don’t get along well with someone because we have opposing viewpoints on hot topics. Go into it with an open mind and desire to learn. Keep in mind that an individual’s opinion about something is based on his/her personal experience just as your opinion is based on your experience. Third, list! Decide to actually listen to that person. It could reveal something to help you understand them and maybe even give you a different perspective that you’ve never thought of. Fourth, you must remember that at our core we all have the same needs. We all want love, acceptance, and affirmation. Don’t focus on what is annoying or negative about the relationship but instead try to stay focused on seeing that person with kind eyes knowing that deep down they have the exact same needs that you do. Lastly, remember that every person is in our life for a reason. We are not given relationships to make our lives horrible. There is good in all relationships we have but we must choose to seek out that good sometimes. 1 John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.