Reflection
THIS woman had oil. The oil was costly. The oil could have been sold or used for herself.
As a woman, the oil was an important part of her, but she valued her relationship and wanted her master to shine more than her.
When you try to better other people’s life, you are making your own life beautiful.
Every relationship in life requires an outpouring. What are you pouring out for others? What you are pouring out now has a way to spread and, somehow and somewhere,return to you.
Relationship helps you to be better, and heal bitterness. A healthy relationship gives you a healthy mind.
What And How To Pour Into Your Relationship
• Tips for a positive relationship
Keep vows and promises – Eccl. 5:5.
Be friendly.
Tolerance – know that everyone is different, hence the need to tolerate – No man is perfect.
Learn to say thank you – Prov. 27:9. Use several ways to appreciate, send SMS, post and cards, among others.
Learn to say,“I am sorry.”
Admits your wrong – Psalm 51:3.
Accept apologies without excuses – 1 Peter 4:8; Prov. 10:12.
Pursue to be in peace – Rom. 14:19, 12:18; Heb. 12:14.
Don’t make fun of guilt – Prov. 14:9.
See Luke 17:3-4 – always forgive.
Learn to appreciate the good qualities in others.
Be attentive to discover their good qualities rather than dwell in the bad ones. Some people know how to discover other people’s wrong than their good. Many hardly keep record of your good deeds, but they have volumes of written and unwritten wrongs about others. No one is above offence.
Learn to apply withdrawal method when necessary– Prov. 5:17.
Always say what you mean and mean what you say.
Learn to share gifts – don’t always be at the receiving end, also learn to give. Eccl. 20:29; Ex. 23:8.
Don’t force others to change their behaviour; it will bring friction and also, make them see reasons to change. Have a positive contagious behaviour.
Always deal with offence before it gets hardened – Prov. 18:19.
Be what you want others to be – Prov. 18:24.
Get involved in life-enhancing and positive discussions.
Always be sure of everything before you become the bearer of others tale.
Try to play and have fun all the time, it eases tensions.
Love – Prov. 17:17, this should be unconditional with no string attached.
Encourage one another.
Accept responsibility.
Manage emotions.
Respect each other as it relates to:
Positive opinions, privacy, personality, pride, and possessions. These are the five P’s of respect.
Don’t be lazy and slothful – Prov. 18:9.
Always pray for and together, and encourage each other to study the word.
Healing The Family At The Time Of Crises
• Be humble
• Be willing to say “I am sorry.”
• Be ready to accept your wrong.
• Be ready to tolerate.
• Strive to accept the offended.
• Be strong enough to let go and forgive.
• Beware! Unresolved crises could become generational crises.
• Believe in each other.
• Be naked.
• Invest in one another.
• The Venerable Stephen Wolemonwu is the Rector, Ibru Ecumenical Centre, Agbarha-Otor, Delta State (08035413812)