Thursday, August 5, 2010

thoughts on development in relationships

I am currently facing some struggles with relationships. 

I find that when you try to give things a perspective in a different light, something away from the current scenerio, many times it provides answers to the actual issue so that you can have a new, better, revised, alternate game plan. 

What I mean is this:  I have tried to imagine what it would be like if I were a parent and how I would relate to my child...how I would coach, train, encourage, discipline, instruct, what my expectations would be & why - and MORE!  I think that some of what I am experiencing would be similar and probably much like that of a parent in relating with their child.  I am sure there are times when you are...
  • excited when things are going well & progress is made
  • frustrated when things are not good & you seem to be taking steps backward
  • not sure what to say to get something thru their thick head, especially when you have said it over and over and over - what more is it going to take?
  • when to be firm, unbending with the risk of being harsh
  • when to be gracious, knowing you had learning curves & growing spurts too
  • when to be understanding and just be a bit more patient
  • when to say enough is enough
  • how not to be perturbed when you have tried everything and things are still not working and you have no more ideas
  • when to let go
  • when to sit down and talk things out
  • when to give space
  • when to demand a response and when to let the person think, hoping that they are
  • etc

All of this is a learning experience for me...and I want to allow God (who knows all about me and all about this person) to work in me and thru me so that I can help those that need help and we both may be pruned and grow. 

Do you ever think of things in a different perspective?  What would you add to this list?  What strategy do you use in relationships?