Relationships

8 April 2011

Proverbs 14:29 He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly. A tranquil mind gives life to the flesh, but passion makes the bones rot.

What makes you angry, what makes you content, these are some of the questions we should ask of ourselves and also of those with whom we are in relationship. Now we have many kinds of relationships and each of whom we must have some understanding of the questions as well as the answers. When one thinks of these we should be able to sit and discuss these as this is integral to a good relationship.

One of the things that makes me angry is abuse, abuse of people, abuse of equipment, abuse of power, it is when others do not have the respect needed to use that which God has given us in a proper way. One of the things that brings me contentment is when my family is content, and the people around me are content. I use the term content as the word happy is emotionally laden and happiness is based on chance not on reality, whereas contentment is being satisfied with what you have. So if you do not know what to speak about to someone, ask them what makes them angry, or ask them what makes them content, you may be surprised by the answers.

So often in relationships we fail to vocalize what we feel about things in an adequate way, and when we do it is usually when we are in the middle of an argument and the other person experiences our emotions rather than hearing what is important to us. Good communication is important in every relationship.

Be encouraged today to communicate and listen.

David

Point to ponder: silence kills relationships.

Question to consider: What makes God angry, what makes God content?