So for those of you that attended Soul on Sunday you would have heard my little bit of sharing. Thanks for the little cheer by the way. You made my day.
I know we have all had different life experiences and there wasn't enough time to hear everyone on Sunday. We'll do our own version of the 'Gerri show' blog-style! How high-tech : ) I am interested to hear how you would have responded to the questions asked on Sunday.
Here are a few of the questions asked on Sunday, as well as a few of my own. Pick one (or two)to answer. If there was one on Sunday that you'd prefer to tackle then go for it.
- How has your own mother impacted your life?
- How do you honor your mother?
- Do you see your mother in you? It what way(s)?
- Are there other women that have had influence in your life?
- How have you honored these women?
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Friday, May 4, 2007
A Safe Place
So last night at Deomorph we talked about the ways to personally become a safe place for relationships. “When you create a safe environment, relationships flourish”. I thought it would be a good idea to have the points up so we can continue the conversation. I’ve pulled them from Dr. Gary Smalley’s book “The DNA of relationships”.
1. Respect the wall. When people are threatened, they build a wall. Instead of trying to knock down the wall with a sledgehammer, respect the wall. Create a safe environment in which the other person can gradually take down the wall.
2. Honor others. When we honor others, we see them as valuable. We see others as God sees them. Honor creates a safe environment in which people can come together.
3. Suspend judgment. When we express genuine interest in people rather than judge them, relationships have a better chance of growing.
4. Value differences. When we value our differences rather than make them the focus of our conflict, we create safety.
5. Be trustworthy. When we are trustworthy with others, we dedicate ourselves to treating them as the valuable and vulnerable people that they are. When we are trustworthy with ourselves, we act in ways consistent with our own value and vulnerability.
I have struggled with most of these things at different times in my relational development and personal maturity. Are there points here that you disagree with? Which of these have you mastered? Which are a work in progress?
1. Respect the wall. When people are threatened, they build a wall. Instead of trying to knock down the wall with a sledgehammer, respect the wall. Create a safe environment in which the other person can gradually take down the wall.
2. Honor others. When we honor others, we see them as valuable. We see others as God sees them. Honor creates a safe environment in which people can come together.
3. Suspend judgment. When we express genuine interest in people rather than judge them, relationships have a better chance of growing.
4. Value differences. When we value our differences rather than make them the focus of our conflict, we create safety.
5. Be trustworthy. When we are trustworthy with others, we dedicate ourselves to treating them as the valuable and vulnerable people that they are. When we are trustworthy with ourselves, we act in ways consistent with our own value and vulnerability.
I have struggled with most of these things at different times in my relational development and personal maturity. Are there points here that you disagree with? Which of these have you mastered? Which are a work in progress?
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