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?
