While listening to the preacher this evening time during our gathering, what struck me most out of his sharing was his mentioning about two qualities that every person must possess so that he will become successful in his relationship with others and these are LOVE and FIDELITY.
These two comprise the whole package in any positive dealing with one's neighbour. While listening to him talking about those two points, as much as I can, I tried to recall back concrete instances of my life to show those two qualities in my life. Looking around, I could also see affirming faces on the preacher's highlights.
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| imagecredit: Ed Gregory |
Anyway, you and me could identify certain relationships that we have in our lifetime. First and foremost, we have this significant relationship with those persons so dear to us like spouses, siblings, etc. Then next comes our relationship with people outside of our primary space like relatives, friends, co-workers, team members etc. Moreover, we also have this relationship with our environment- all those creatures around us including plants, trees, animals and the like. Finally, we have this grand relationship with someone whom we called our Creator- no matter what name we try to attribute to this one yet He remains the same to you and me- He is the source of everything.
Thus, how then could you apply or even experience those two qualities in all those relationships? Love then comes in when we prioritise the welfare of those dear people in our life- sacrificing everything even our own satisfaction, desires, needs and wants. However, on this very complicated and modern world we have now, expressing love becomes such a very challenging one for if we are not that keen and careful, the latest innovations especially on matters like communication will most probably interfere in our interactions with people primary to our care like spouses and children.
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| imagecredit: Ed Gregory |
On the other hand, in order for us to check how loving we are to them and to others, let us confront ourselves with such questions as: Are we ready and willing to be interfered in our other affairs so as to give attention to our spouses and children? Are we willing to offer precious and quality time to them disregarding our other priorities and appointments? Do we go beyond all conditions in our loving of them meaning do we still accept them even if they present their negative qualities to us like failings and weaknesses?
Moreover, fidelity comes in when we concretely manifest loyalty to our pledge to these precious people in our life. That in spite of all our limitations and weaknesses, we are still able to hold on to our promises to them that we constantly regard them everyday and every moment with extra special and remarkable attention as well as care. Such world that we have now could be at times a tricky one engulfed with various stumbling blocks such as temptations and greediness, yet in spite of their presence, we express our fidelity to our partners by overwhelming those stumbling blocks and returning back to our significant others' loving embrace.
Finally, if we then are able to sustain LOVE and FIDELITY in our relationships with others, we allow ourselves to be positive contributors to their life and growth.
