Winston Churchill said, "We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the
landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight
in the hills." Like humorist Bob Orben added, "That sounds a lot like our family
vacations." And for some people it sounds like everyday life.
The problem is not whether families should have conflict - of course they will!
The problem is rather whether or not those conflicts will end. For some people,
living in families is like the Hundred Year War. Conflict that has a good ending
can bring people closer together, but fighting that goes on and on will only
tear families apart.
At one point during a game, the coach said to one of his young players, "Do you
understand what cooperation is? What a team is?" The little boy nodded yes.
"Do you understand that what matters is whether we win together as a team?" The
little boy nodded yes.
"So," the coach continued, "when a strike is called, or you are out at first,
you don't argue or curse or attack the umpire. Do you understand all that?"
Again, the boy nodded yes.
"Good," said the coach. "Now go over there and explain it to your mother."
Families are like baseball teams. The only way a family will win is as a team.
They win pulling together; they never win pushing against each other.
If your family has conflict - talk it out. Then when it's over, let it really be
over so you can pull together. That is the only way your family will win!
By Steve Goodier © 2004 Life Support System Publishing, Inc.
LifeSupport-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
everyone to look towards Jesus as the source of all the solutions to our
problems. It contains a daily inspirational story, a Bible verse and encouraging
messages. HTML and plain text versions available.
The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.