I am sure that many of you out there have experienced personal conflicts with family or friends and even with strangers. We do not all think alike or respond alike in these situations. That is to be expected when you realize how different we all are and what life events have shaped or changed our way of relating to others. Words are misspoken or misunderstood. Feelings are hurt. Forgiveness is not always so easy.
Now as you think about this, I hope you realize that the key to understanding how these conflicts are best resolved is very simple really. It is a matter of understanding perception. You see, what we see or hear is not always as it seems. What we say or display will often be perceived in a different manner than it was actually intended to be. Our communications fail to connect us and instead disconnect us. I pray that you will bear this in mind in your future conflicts and strive to see the situation in the perspective of others as well as your own. There is not always a clear right and wrong in our conflicts; hence the balancing of opinions in a more forgiving manner, allowing a little grace to enter into the situation for the good of maintaining relationships. This still takes both parties to be willing to sway their perception to something in the middle that allows peace and forgiveness for the sake of continuing the relationship. When it does not end well, do not seek to place blame on the other or feel smug in your attitude that you did your part. Do, however, accept that not all people who come into our life are meant to stay in our life. No blame and no shame, just a part of life’s learning and growing process. I pray this brings you to a place where you can live with whatever outcome is yours and embrace the next opportunity to learn and grow in stature of the Lord.
May the Lord lift us up and above our own worldly perceptions and indeed see through His eyes and seek His wisdom.
Sister Debbie

“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”

John Wesley