A friend of mine blessed me this book that made me realized alot of things highlithing some issues that i believe i need to address, its humbling to acknowledge it but i believe it would make me a better me=) ( A better you by joel osteen)
…I used to put my family in my last priority but their the number one people I see during my downtimes especially when im in the hospital but Relationships are what really matter in life-our relationship to God ,with your spouse, children and extended family members and others within our communities-yet all too often we allow these relationships to occupy much lower positions than they deserve on our priority lists( 1.relationship with God 2.Famiy 3. Career 4. Ministry 5.self) If we are not careful , we can allow something or somebody to drive a wedge between ourselves and the people who are most precious to us.
……God made each of us as unique individuals. We have different personalities and temperaments; we approach issues in different ways, so we really shouldn’t be surprised when we grate against one another occasionally. Too often, though, if someone doesn’t agree with our opinion, or see eye to eye with us on some matter, we get bent out of shape and allow strife to foment. I’ve discovered that just because somebody is not exactly like me, or doesn’t do things the way I do them , that doesn’t necessarily mean that I am right and they are wrong. Were just different and our differences can cause friction.
…….It takes maturity to get along with somebody who is different than you are. It takes patience not to start a dispute over minor issues or become easily offended . I f were going to keep the strife out of our lives, then we must learn how to give people the benefit of the doubt .
…….i use to be a faultfinder but we need to overlook some things but I realized that Every person has faults ;we all have weaknesses. We should not expect the people with whom we are in a relationship to be perfect. No matter how great a person he or she maybe, no matter how much you love him or her, if you are around that person long enough, you will have an opportunity to get offended. There is no such thing as perfect spouse, perfect boss, friend…
……..I put unrealistic expectations on people, expecting them to be perfect but I realized , that is not fair to them and it will be a source of frustrations for us. Were always going to be disappointed
……I used to live with the attitude of “ I love you as long as you never hurt me or as long as you ever make a mistake.’’ “Ill be your friend as long you treat me just right’’, as long as you do things my way , then all accept you then ill be happy ‘’.But I realized that is extremely unfair and places too much pressure on that other person. The scripture teaches that love makes allowances for people’s weaknesses. Love covers a persons faults Love believes the best in people. In other words you have to overlook some things..I realized to Quit demanding perfection out of them and learn to show a little mercy. Rather than criticizing ..give him the benefit of the doubt and believe the best in him.
……..Everybody has the right to have a bad day every once in a while. If somebody does something you don’t like , if they offend or insult you unwittingly, simply swallow your pride and overlook that offense.
…….Love keeps no record of wrongs done to it. You might see your relationship with someone go to a whole new level if you’d just get rid of the record book. I know people who have mental list of everything anybody has done wrong to them for the last twenty years, with detailed scorecard.
…….As long as you are bringing up pain from the past, you are going to have strife in your present..
……God may have put you somebody different from you on purpose. That’s not a mistake. Your strengths and weaknesses and that other person’s strengths and weaknesses maybe quiet different but ideally, your strength can make up your partners weaknesses and his or her strength can make up your weaknesses .You complement each other .You should complete each other rather than compete with each other. The two of you are much more powerful than you are apart.
…..I realized that we cannot change people, only God can.
…….Don’t make the same mistake that I did. Don’t be so proud that you always have to prove your point. Swallow your pride and consider somebody else opinion. You may think that your right but there’s a chance that your wrong.
……Don’t be hardheaded and stubborn. Maybe you have been at odds with somebody for months, not speaking to them, giving them the cold shoulder. Life is too short to live in that way. If possible go to that person and make things right-while you still have the opportunity. Don’t wait until you cannot make amends with someone whom you are estranged. Do it today swallow your pride and apologize even if it wasn’t you r fault. Keep the peace. Understand, it’s not about always being right. It’s about keeping strife out of your life. You can win every argument, but it opens the to turmoil, brings division and tears you apart, in the end you didn’t win at all-and you may have lost a lot.
……I believe that God always gives us warning, a wake up call of sorts. He may say simply” Stop being so argumentative. Quit being a faultfinder..Respond to his voice.
…….If you wait for somebody else to be the peacemaker in your life, you may wait around your whole lifetime. Living your life on hold. Peace starts with you; you make the first move.
……Get rid of the pettiness that produces division and discord. Make adjustments to keep the peace.
……Invest in your relationships. Take time to make a difference. Don’t just obsess about how you can make your own life better. I realized that Love looks for a way of being constructive in other words love looks for ways to help improve somebody else’s life. It takes 5 positive charges to override one negative charge, in other words, before you correct someone make sure that you already given those person 5 compliments. Sadly, the correction to compliment ratio is nearly opposite that in our society today.
……..Remember: genuine love overlooks a fault. Love makes allowances for mistakes. True love sees the best in every person. When he makes a mistake, don’t embarrass him instead deal with them in private if at all possible, and always do your best to protect their dignity. If you want life long loyal friendship do your best to protect a reputation. Don’t make the mistake of living your life self-centered , rushing through your day concerned only about yourself. Sow a good deposits,appreciate and thank people. Learn to give compliments freely.Its about time..move on and grow! Live! Laugh! Love!! Be a better you!!
