Already, even before we begin, you're thinking, "This guy is either on another planet or off one of his weird adventures. Christmas Eve and he wants to talk about construction."
Bear with me. I'll make the connection and I'll make it short. Well, maybe.
In case you're interested, the Do-It-Yourself concept is alive and well. People are doing everything imaginable without the aid of professionals.
You can read (if you're interested) A Step-by-Step Guide to the Home Building Process. You can learn how to hire a builder or what the steps would be as a DIY'er.
But since these articles look toward living in Christ, I was thinking more about building and sustaining relationships. Go ahead and Google this. You'll have reading materials for the rest of your life.
I think it is possible to be a DIY'er as well as someone who works well with others. We can build relationships but that just might be as difficult (more difficult?) as building a house. As with a house, we must begin with the foundation.
The foundation lies in frame-of-mind. It takes new attitudes, bi-partisanship, and consideration. That looks like the start of an ABC's of relationship building. I wonder how successful we might be if we filled in the rest of the alphabet. (Feel free to submit your own 'alphabet' in the comment section!)
- Attitudes
- Bi-partisanship
- Consideration
- Due diligence
- Empathy
- Fairness
- Gentleness
- H. - Z.?
And, since it IS Christmas Eve, here are a few things to consider.
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40
"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." Ephesians 4: 29, 31-32
"In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive." Acts 20:35
"A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed." Proverbs 11:25
“A merry heart does good like medicine.” Proverbs 17:22
So then. "MERRY" Christmas to you and your heart.
In case you're interested, during my Google-thing, I found this blogger who seems to have some excellent pointers for building others up in daily life.
Ten Simple Ways to Build Each Other Up
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