KEY TO CONNECTIONS THAT LAST

Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Romans 12:15 (NLT)

My kids are all adults now, but it seems like only yesterday when my wife Sally and I were in the thick of raising five little kids. Like most parents, problems and issues screamed at me, all vying for my attention. In the midst of it all, I needed to learn how to switch my focus. Instead of just smiling and nodding and pretending I was listening, I wanted to be in the moment with my family. In fact, developing this ability has led to one of the greatest joys of my life.

Like many of us, I can tend to get wrapped up in my world—the problems I’m facing and the goals I’m trying to achieve. But every member of my family has their own world—their own struggles, dreams and daily realities. The key to building a great relationship with each of them has been tied to my willingness to connect with their world.

When you connect with others this way, you have the opportunity to see life through their eyes. You can share in their wins and help them walk through their losses. You gain a whole new level of compassion and understanding, and this allows you to stay close to each of them, even kids in their teenage years.

Take the time to understand what the people in your world are going through as it says in our verse today. Really connect with what they are living with on a daily basis—it’s the key to building connections that can last through anything.