A
thought by John C. Maxwell (2016-02-02) from his book, 3 Things Successful People Do: The Road Map That Will Change Your Life
(p. 153). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click
on the title of the book to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)
John
quotes Psychologist William James who observed, “In every person from the
cradle to the grave, there is a deep craving to be appreciated.”
I’m
69 and I still crave to be appreciated and I know you do too if you're really honest.
John
goes on, “Feeling appreciated brings out the best in people. And when that
appreciation comes in the home and is coupled with acceptance, love, and
encouragement, the bonds between family members grow, and the home becomes a
safe haven for everyone.”
And
that is what home is supposed to be. But in so many cases that is not what it
is. It is more of a tear down than a
build up or a battle ground than a safe haven. And that is a major problem. I’ve heard people say that the problem with
America today is that they took prayer out of the schools and I understand why
they say that. But I also feel that one
of the major problems in the world is that we have taken appreciation, acceptance, love and
encouragement from our homes.
John
says, “All of us have a blend of strengths and weaknesses in each area that
makes us unique. And once you have a good understanding of how the other
members of your family are designed, it becomes easier for you to be more
sensitive to each other and to express love for each other.”
He
goes on, “I’ve heard that for every negative remark to a family member, it
takes four positive statements to counteract the damage. That’s why it’s so
important to focus on the positive aspects of each other’s personality and
express unconditional love for each other, both verbally and nonverbally. Then
the home becomes a positive environment for everyone.”
And
that is what we really want. Isn't it? So where are we going to start today?
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