Make Time to Care

The ability to communicate varies from person to person. The desire and need to communicate depends on each individual’s personality and temperament. As a teenager I made a concerted effort to explain to my father how I wrecked the car he had just given me. Needless to say, I was under great pressure to successfully plead my case. 

At the heart of all effective communication is caring enough for the other person and the relationship to speak honestly and thoroughly as well as being committed to listen to each other’s response. Caring enough supplies the incentive to speak on issues that need to be addressed.

So another basic principle for effective communication is making time to stay in touch so relationships can remain healthy and thrive. God patiently allows us to confess our sins and express our struggles without resorting to intimidation or condemnation because he cares enough to give us the latitude to grow and change. This personifies his grace and mercy. 

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 Don’t overlook the obvious here, friends. With God, one day is as good as a thousand years, a thousand years as a day. God isn’t late with his promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the end because he doesn’t want anyone lost. He’s giving everyone space and time to change.

~2 Peter 3:9 The Message

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Don't Assume – Check for Understanding

In American culture, English is the preferred language. There are, however, a significant number of other languages spoken in the privacy of family homes. When speaking or listening to an individual from another culture who is just learning English, carefully choosing and using words in addition to thoroughly listening to what is said is imperative.

A basic principle for effective communication is being alert to the false assumption that what is spoken will be interpreted as intended. A word’s meaning may be clear and distinct, provided everyone is playing by the same rules of honesty and integrity. Beyond the surface meaning, however, words could have any number of implications.

Effective communication depends on each person knowing that what is said is actually what is meant. According to God, honest communication is convincing because it is trustworthy. Listen to God’s word from Proverbs 20:7. “The godly walk with integrity. Blessed are their children who follow  them.” You can be sure they’re watching.  

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A fool finds no satisfaction in trying to understand, for he would rather express his own opinion. 

~Proverbs 18:2 International Standard Version

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Subscribe to the Attitudes Answers podcast on your favorite podcast platform to hear this and other 2-minute features 3 days every week.