12 Simple Things

We are all in relationship of some sort with other, unless we are complete hermits. There is no escaping the fact that we interact with others in our lives. If we all did the following 12 simple things we can do in all of our relationships with all others, can you imagine what our lives would be like? For that matter, theirs too!

1.    Show everyone kindness and respect

2.    Give people we don’t know a fair chance.

3.    Accept others just the way they are.

4.    Do little things every day for others.

5.    Pay attention to who our real friends are.

6.    Stay in touch with people who matter to us.

7.    Keep our promises and tell the truth.

8.    Say what we mean and mean what we say.

9.    Allow other to make their own decisions.

10. Talk a little less, and listen a lot more.

11. Leave petty arguments alone.

12. Ignore unconstructive, hurtful commentary.

Obviously, one could immediately come to the conclusion that those 12 items should apply to the anonymous keyboard warriors on social media. I would agree. But, isn’t it far more important that we apply them to ourselves in our everyday face to face relationships?  What a world it might be if those 12 items were at the core of our relational skills. How pleasing would that be to the God that loves us? How would they, if we applied them to ourselves, help us in our Christian walk as men?

Bottom Line Thought: If you did a little checklist on yourself with all of the relationships you come in contact with, how would you score from a 1 to 12?