We know that relationships are easy to break but hard to fix. Ugh! Let’s wrestle with that! How did we get here? So, how do we damage a close relationship? By a careless word, a breach of trust, or a misunderstanding. Unfortunately, there are lots of ways to damage a relationship. Ok, a relationship with […]
Who we are drives what we say, so like it or not, we say who we are! A Dishonest Complement In the Proverbs, words like praise and honor indicate an honest complement. Conversely, the word flattery is used in Proverbs to mean deception, enticement, or entrapment. Flattery is mentioned alongside lying, Proverbs 26.28, as a […]
Hard lessons demand a hearing ear and a learning heart. Thus, the importance of learning to say it right! Good Intentions, Bad Delivery When communicating, delivery and timing are often as important as content. We hear this principle loudly in Proverbs 27.14, where the intentions are good (“… bless his friend …”). Unfortunately, the delivery […]
Thoughtful responses preserve friendships, hence the need for a process to handle conflicts between friends. Handling Conflict For a number of reasons, friends or neighbors have conflicts. We’re wise not to respond hastily, but instead to be self-controlled and thoughtful. Why? Because our haste or anger may backfire. We may not have all the facts. […]
Some choices are a hard NO! Friendships that snare us are one example. What’s the problem here? Sometimes a warning comes with a rationale. In Proverbs 22.24 we’re warned about being a companion, thus building a friendship, with someone who has issues with self-control. Here the problem is anger and fury. That anger shows out […]
