Communication
Dear Friends,
Perhaps you remember a series of commercials years ago when cell phone companies were battling about who had the best service. There were all kinds of ads that promoted the clarity of sound and the dangers of not having a clear signal or clear sound. Misunderstandings in communication can create some serious problems. Here is one funny example of misunderstandings in communication from a Progressive Insurance commercial -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkDVSAACX28
.
Communication is key in life. It is key to our relationships. It is crucial to a healthy marriage and to healthy families. You would think with as many ways as there are to communicate today that we would not struggle with it. The reality is, however, that the method of communication isn’t nearly as important as the desire to do so and the respect that we show others when we communicate effectively with them. When we take time to communicate – whether it is “I love you” or “I’m going to be late for dinner” – we demonstrate that we care.
It is harder to teach respect than it is to teach someone to write a note or to send a text message. Respect begins with love. Let’s model love and respect with others and then perhaps we can hope to receive it from them. Let’s give others reason to want to communicate with us so that we don’t have to fight our children to let us know their plans or get frustrated with our spouses when they don’t take time to let us know they will be late.
Our faith teaches us that relationships come first. Love God and love neighbor. Jesus came as God’s living Word to speak God’s love to us and to invite us to take seriously those with whom we are in relationship. May we show love and respect through healthy communication.
To God be the Glory!
Robert
