Home Sweet Home Part II - Essentials of Strong Communication
Let’s be real, if you can’t discuss tough topics with the members of your family without it turning into an argument or you feel like you are constantly ‘walking on eggshells’ to avoid topics, it’s going to be exponentially more difficulty to build the strong family relationships you desire. That’s why last week’s Part I was, first and foremost, about your relationship with Christ so that you can have a better perspective (foundation) for how to build a relationship with your family.
Unfortunately, communication is a major area of weakness in so many families and one that is often times overcomplicated when trying to fix it. The good news is it doesn’t have to be complicated, but there is a secret to making things less complicated. The secret to being a great communicator is that it requires us to change ‘us’ first, not the other person. And that my friends, may prove to be a bit challenging for all of us and is why fixing communication is often viewed as being so complicated.
Communication may be defined as any exchange of information between individuals. For members of the human species, it is an essential part of all social interactions. We communicate through speech, written language, sign language, body language, Braille, Morse code, and many other cultural and technological inventions. There is even some evidence that we use body odor in communication
Pretty Simple, right? To complicate it even further, it should go without debate that men and women think differently as well. Nonetheless, let’s see if we can simplify this a bit. Let’s start with the basics.
Strong communication is more than the exchange of information, it encapsulates emotions and opinions as well.
Talking ‘to’ someone is a oneway conversation. Talking ‘with’ someone requires both to participate.
You should listen intently to the other person so that you understand their perspective rather than silently planning your response
And now the Biblical Essentials...
I. Foundation
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. - 1 Corinthians 13:4-5
II. Walls and Roof
My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry - James 1:19
Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. - Philippians 2:4
III. Termites
He who answers before listening that is his folly and his shame. - Proverbs 18:13
A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions. - Proverbs 18:2
IV. Preventative Maintenance
Love keeps no record of wrongs - 1 Corinthians 13:5
For where two or three come together in my name, there am I [Christ] with them. - Matthew 18:20
