ADVICE DAD NEVER GAVE YOU

Ralph Sorter

   “Lord, why can’t they see things the way I do?  Why do I have to struggle with them when I know this is the best way to resolve it?  When both of us are praying about a matter, why do we both have different answers in our mind?  Lord, I know You don’t answer one way with one person and another with me.  Which one of us is hearing You correctly?”

   Sound familiar?  Most of us find ourselves struggling with those who see things differently.

   You’ve heard that opposites attract one another.  What is a strength in someone else is admired by one who is weak in that area.  We often go to people for help who are strong in an area where we are weak.  There’s nothing wrong with that.

   But when God puts opposites together in a marriage, if we don’t learn to appreciate the other, friction is bound to be on every slice of bread instead of butter…and it’s hard to swallow.

   So I want you to listen to this statement with all three ears (that means really listen).  God puts opposites together for a reason…otherwise one is unnecessary. 

   Are you really ready to face God and tell Him He made a mistake?  Was He wrong in putting you together with an opposite?  Is that opposite person really unnecessary in God’s Kingdom?

   Or could the problem be that you are a hard, brittle twig instead of a green, pliable branch?  Green, pliable branches bear beautiful fruit.  Hard, brittle twigs soon loose their life-giving bark and break with a slight wind; they can’t bend.

   Perhaps the resolve lies in being less defensive, less hardheaded and opening your third ear to hear what they have to contribute.  You may think you see 20-20, but if they see something you don’t…perhaps you need a vision adjustment.  Or better yet…a heart adjustment.

   You’ve got a choice: Continue throwing snowballs at each other over your protective snow bank wall…or meet midway and make snow angels.

A Message from HOPE’S

Marriage & Family Ministry

ADVICE DAD NEVER GAVE YOU

Ralph Sorter

   “Lord, why can’t they see things the way I do?  Why do I have to struggle with them when I know this is the best way to resolve it?  When both of us are praying about a matter, why do we both have different answers in our mind?  Lord, I know You don’t answer one way with one person and another with me.  Which one of us is hearing You correctly?”

   Sound familiar?  Most of us find ourselves struggling with those who see things differently.

   You’ve heard that opposites attract one another.  What is a strength in someone else is admired by one who is weak in that area.  We often go to people for help who are strong in an area where we are weak.  There’s nothing wrong with that.

   But when God puts opposites together in a marriage, if we don’t learn to appreciate the other, friction is bound to be on every slice of bread instead of butter…and it’s hard to swallow.

   So I want you to listen to this statement with all three ears (that means really listen).  God puts opposites together for a reason…otherwise one is unnecessary. 

   Are you really ready to face God and tell Him He made a mistake?  Was He wrong in putting you together with an opposite?  Is that opposite person really unnecessary in God’s Kingdom?

   Or could the problem be that you are a hard, brittle twig instead of a green, pliable branch?  Green, pliable branches bear beautiful fruit.  Hard, brittle twigs soon loose their life-giving bark and break with a slight wind; they can’t bend.

   Perhaps the resolve lies in being less defensive, less hardheaded and opening your third ear to hear what they have to contribute.  You may think you see 20-20, but if they see something you don’t…perhaps you need a vision adjustment.  Or better yet…a heart adjustment.

   You’ve got a choice: Continue throwing snowballs at each other over your protective snow bank wall…or meet midway and make snow angels.

A Message from HOPE’S

Marriage & Family Ministry

ADVICE DAD NEVER GAVE YOU

Ralph Sorter

   “Lord, why can’t they see things the way I do?  Why do I have to struggle with them when I know this is the best way to resolve it?  When both of us are praying about a matter, why do we both have different answers in our mind?  Lord, I know You don’t answer one way with one person and another with me.  Which one of us is hearing You correctly?”

   Sound familiar?  Most of us find ourselves struggling with those who see things differently.

   You’ve heard that opposites attract one another.  What is a strength in someone else is admired by one who is weak in that area.  We often go to people for help who are strong in an area where we are weak.  There’s nothing wrong with that.

   But when God puts opposites together in a marriage, if we don’t learn to appreciate the other, friction is bound to be on every slice of bread instead of butter…and it’s hard to swallow.

   So I want you to listen to this statement with all three ears (that means really listen).  God puts opposites together for a reason…otherwise one is unnecessary. 

   Are you really ready to face God and tell Him He made a mistake?  Was He wrong in putting you together with an opposite?  Is that opposite person really unnecessary in God’s Kingdom?

   Or could the problem be that you are a hard, brittle twig instead of a green, pliable branch?  Green, pliable branches bear beautiful fruit.  Hard, brittle twigs soon loose their life-giving bark and break with a slight wind; they can’t bend.

   Perhaps the resolve lies in being less defensive, less hardheaded and opening your third ear to hear what they have to contribute.  You may think you see 20-20, but if they see something you don’t…perhaps you need a vision adjustment.  Or better yet…a heart adjustment.

   You’ve got a choice: Continue throwing snowballs at each other over your protective snow bank wall…or meet midway and make snow angels.

A Message from HOPE’S

Marriage & Family Ministry