Inter-personal part 4
Dealing with people can be a lot sometimes. Because people can be a lot sometimes. The thing we need to really remember is that everybody is going through stuff. Everybody is fighting a battle that you might not know anything about. And even if you know about it, you might not know the whole story. You might think you know, but realistically you might have no idea. Because even if it's something you've been through, that doesn't mean you know exactly how they feel. We are all different. We all experience things differently. Point being: We need to make sure we are building our inter-personal relationships with each on the right foundation. The foundation that has already been laid. And the only foundation that can stand. Jesus. Love. If you love someone, you can not only tolerate them when they are a lot, but you can actually embrace it. Celebrate it. You can let people be who they are without trying to change them and make them fit into your idea of who and what you think they should be. A relationship is never about control. It can't be. That's manipulation. Trying to get what you want from people is never going to be able to sustain a relationship. Because relationship is not about getting anything. Relationship is about giving. Giving everything you have and everything you are. That's how you sustain a relationship. When you get all upset because you think you aren't getting what you want (or need) from someone... that's when you've gotten the whole point of the whole thing twisted. When you think you're lacking something you have forgotten the face of your heavenly Father. "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19). And I've always said the best part about that verse is how MY God shally supply all of YOUR need. Like, Paul was so unconcerned with himself--because he knew he was covered--that all he wanted to do was make sure YOU knew YOU were covered. He wanted to give what he had. He wanted to edify others. Help others. Build up others. And build relationships with others. Paul was all about giving what he had. Making sure everybody else had what they needed. That's the attitude we must bring into our relationships. Otherwise they will be doomed to failure. Relationships won't work without love. They can't. Relationships won't work when someone is trying to get, get, get. It's not even a give and take, really. It's a give and give. Like how people say it's 50-50. When really it's 100-100. If I give my all and you give your all... that's when it all comes together. And a lot of that is just taking people as they come. Letting people be who they are and loving them anyway. Loving them FOR who they are. Not simply tolerating people, but celebrating people. Letting them know they are special by showing them how special they are. And that doesn't mean you have to like everything. Or accept everything. It means grace, and mercy, and forgiveness... and love are the active ingredients to a strong, healthy, successful relationship!