Getting Ahead: The importance of communication

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My parents and grandparents have passed away but their accomplishments live on.

As I think back I remember not only what they said, but what they demonstrated. They passed their wisdom and knowledge on to me by instruction and example. I recall my grandfather explaining the proper way to apply pressure progressively from my index finger down through my other fingers as he milked a cow. After watching grandpa and listening to his instruction I was able to get a good stream of milk from that cow.

My dad was remodeling one of the churches where he was pastor when he taught me to do finish carpentry work. When the time came to put on the trim, dad demonstrated and explained to me how to measure and cut the proper angles necessary for a professional fit. After a time he had me do the measuring and cutting without his help and I was able to accomplish the task.

I could give you countless examples of my parents and grandparents teaching me by not only explaining the way, but also showing it to me. It is much easier to learn from someone when they have firsthand knowledge as well as tried and proven methods. These people can not only tell you how it is to be done, they can also show you.

There will always be challenges as we come up against unknown or difficult situations. These can be things that may or may not have relevance to our prior experiences. We have all had difficult times in the past and been able to come through them.

It would be much easier if after we worked our way through a hard time, we could use the same technique to work our way through every hard time. But that is not the way it happens. Our tough circumstances will have their own particular set of pitfalls that we have not encountered before.

For instance; if you successfully deal with a difficult person it does not mean that the next difficult person you are forced to deal with will respond in the same way. In those times we could be victorious if we had someone there to explain and demonstrate to us exactly what we needed to do.

These and other life questions will be addressed Sunday morning as “The Gathering Place Family” meets in the Washington High School Gymnasium at 10 a.m. for our Pre-Service Connection where we enjoy coffee, juice and donuts. Our Worship Service and Children’s Church then begins at 10:30.

Come at 7 p.m. and be part of our Wednesday night Bible Study and Children’s Ministry on the third floor above Trends at 120 West Court St.

http://www.recordherald.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2016/05/pfeifer-mug-B-W.pdf

By John G. Pfeifer

Religion Columnist

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