Good Monday Morning Coffee everyone ☺️! I hope everyone is doing great today! Welcome to a new day, a new week, and another encouraging conversation with me, Kenya! So, if your ready, then grab that yummy drink ☕️ and let’s get into it!
So, for today conversation we will continue with our “Loving Others Well” series. Last week we focused on ways to celebrate others which is so much fun and how it takes loving others to another level. So lets get into part 4:
Don’t Assume
1. Don’t assume your perspective is correct.
Let’s face it, when we are at odds with others or just feel passionate about something, our main objective is getting others to see what we see. I have to confess that this is me, lol! I am a highly energetic person and when I get on something, well let’s just say somebody is going to know it. Now just hear me out, the reason why I do this is because I want others to benefit from it too. In my mind, if I don’t tell you all about this “amazing thing or point of view” I feel kind of selfish inside. I mean who wants to feel like that? Really in my opinion there really is nothing wrong with sharing but the issue comes when you are always one sided. Basically you think “the opinions of others pales in comparison to yours”! Well if “loving others well” is the aim, then we have to stop this. Once again we have to remember the second commandment which says” Love your neighbor as you love yourself. And since we would want some one to consider our perspective, it’s only right for us to give the same courtesy to the other person.
#treatothersasyouwouldhaveotherstreatyou
One thing that you should consider is, perhaps you can be partially or just totally wrong. I know it is hard for us as humans to accept this but I hope all of us have chose to humble ourselves in order to make the situation better. Now in those moments when you discover or realized (which means to become fully aware of something as a fact and /or to understand clearly) and you still won’t budge then you have a bigger issue which is pride. In the book of Proverbs 11:2 it says, “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” The other day, I felt deep inside that I needed to share my point of view on a subject to someone and although I felt extremely right, the other person was adamant on their point of view. So, basically we agreed to disagree. Although I felt really sad because the other person did not accept my perspective, I really did not want my relationship with them to become weird. So I went to the Lord in prayer and I finally was able to realize that the other person’s perspective really did have some valid points. This helped me to look at what I was doing and what changes I needed to make and the realities that I really needed to face. When I poured out my heart to God about the situation I received the wisdom that I needed which helped me avoid disgrace and continue with my relationship with the other person.
2. Listen to what the person is saying from an unbiased stand point.
This leads us into point two. There are times that it will be important to enter into a conversation with an unbiased stand point, which will be helpful. In other words, not only do I have an opinion, but I am also aware that the other person has one too. It is about being teachable. In order for us to grow we have to be willing to learn. Sure, you do have valid points but so does the other person. Even young people have profound view points. When we consider the conversation as a whole we will discover that maybe we are wrong or even better the other person just brought more clarity on the subject and both parties are encouraged and enlighten. Humility is key. It’s helps us to remember that we all are growing and none of us have “arrived”.
3. Are you too opinionated, critical, or a negative Nancy.
Point three, I believe is something that we need to stop doing all together. These types of attitudes make us look prideful and just plain nasty. When we are like this, it shows that there is something more deeper going on. It may be that a person who displays these characteristics really in fact may have a low self esteem. Remember the scripture from part two that instructs us to love others as we would love ourselves, well if this is what loving your self looks like them the problem is within that critical person. That person is revealing that they are hard on themselves. Please don’t believe the lie that its okay. This is not okay! If this is you, I just want you to know that this is not love and it’s only hurting you and the people you still have left. Ask Jesus to heal the broken areas of your heart so you can overcome and experience the love, peace, joy, and much more that comes from spending time with Him.
So to conclude part 4, having opinions and wanting to share your point of view is not a bad thing. The trouble only comes when we are dismissive towards the other person’s feelings and their perspective. When you allow yourself to just listen, I mean really listen and consider their point of view, then you are behaving in a mature manner. Remember only children go on and on about what they want with total disregard to reason. Have you ever heard the saying that says “there is your side of the story, the other person’s side of the story, and then there is God’s side”. Only God is all knowing, so keep that in mind next time.
Side Note: Let Jesus be your mediator!
Monday Morning Coffee question: Do you fall into any of these categories? Has this conversation helped you to make changes to how you will now approach conversations? Do have any other advice to add to the conversation? Remember we are all learning to be better!
So, remember to take it one day at a time, stay encouraged in the Lord, and remember that the Lord loves you soooo much, so make sure to love Him back!
Thank you for joining me for today’s Monday Morning Coffee conversation. I hope your were blessed, inspired, challenged, and of course, encouraged! If so, then please like👍🏾, subscribe, comment, and share. So until next Monday, have a beautiful, blessed day 🌺 and bye for now 👋🏾!
-Kenya 🌹
Coffee and Encouraging Conversation 