On the way home, Fran says to Jesus, "Poor Elinor, that’s a tough spot, Lord. I mean, I get tired of having all the responsibility at my house, but at least I don’t have to deal with all the anger that is inside of Elinor because of Rick’s attitude. In a way, I have it easier than she does," Fran says.
She smiles as she hears her words, because just a few days ago she was envying Elinor. "Look how my perspective changed in one evening, Lord. You’re so right—things are not always the way they appear on the outside."
"Well, I hope I gave her good advice, Lord. Elinor made the mistake of going back into teaching without having a clear understanding with Rick. She assumed he would be willing to help her with the workload, but she never talked with him about it beforehand. And instead of assigning jobs and responsibilities to the kids, she just complained all the time and felt sorry for herself.
That demotivates the kids and Rick even more, so it becomes a Catch 22. If she’ll take my advice, it might break the cycle and help, don’t you think so, Jesus?" Fran senses his affirmation.
“I told her to threaten to quit if things don’t change," Fran remembers, “but that is a strong approach. I hope she doesn’t use words that challenge Rick’s manhood or authority unnecessarily. But if it comes down to it, she might have to let him know that quitting is an option she may exercise if necessary."
Fran remembers a verse from Proverbs which the Lord has brought to her mind many times: ‘Sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.’ Choosing the right words often makes a huge difference in whether people want to do what we want them to do or not. Elinor should be focused on solving the problem, not proving something to Rick or standing up for her rights.
"You know, Lord,” Fran says, “people are people. Whether it’s wives dealing with husbands, managers with employees, coworkers with each other or with customers, the same principles of communication still apply and still work, don’t they?"
Fran thinks back over her conversation that evening with Elinor and realizes all they talked about was Elinor and her problem. She hadn’t really thought of that before.
"Oh well, that’s okay,” she says to herself. “If I ever need a listening ear, Elinor will be there for me, I’m sure. I just hope it was helpful to her. In a way, it was very helpful to me. Makes me realize the grass is not always that much greener on the other side of the fence!"
And with that she pulls into her driveway.
Improving Your Relationships is a Bible Study written by Mary Whelchel that tackles our greatest challenges in relationships. These biblical principles you will learn from this study you will be able to apply to all of your relationships. To order call 630-462-0552 or go online to our bookstore at www.christianworkingwoman.org.
Our 25th Annual Weekend Getaway is April 19-21, 2013. Kay Arthur is our Special Guest Speaker. This will be an event you don’t want to miss. For more information call 630-462-0552 or go to our website at www.christianworkingwoman.org.