Bible Reading: Luke 2:48-50
“When I was a kid . . .” “When I went to school . . .” “When I was your age . . .”
Did your parents use any of those phrases?
Parents and children don’t always understand each other. It is a challenge to understand others and to have them understand us.
If it is any comfort, Jesus’ parents didn’t always understand him either! Luke 2:48-50 say, “When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, ‘Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.’ ‘Why were you searching for me?’ he [Jesus] asked. ‘Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?’ But they did not understand what he was saying to them.”
Being misunderstood isn’t fatal. Try some of the following things to help you understand other people and to help them understand you:
* Spend time with each other. That way you will have plenty of opportunities to really get to know each other.
* Really listen when the other person is talking to you. Don’t tune him or her out.
* Tell the other person about your life, thoughts, and feelings. Help them to understand you.
* Ask that person about his or her thoughts and feelings so that you will better understand that person.
* Actively live Luke 6:31 which says, “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” When you do, your respect for others and their respect for you will grow and the desire to better understand one another will grow, too.
“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.” Romans 12:10
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help me to understand the people around me. Help them to understand me, too. In Jesus’ name. Amen.