Family Communication
Look Who’s Talking – Part 1

Scripture Reading: Matthew 12:33-37

Key Verse: Matthew 12:35

The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.

As we finish up this month’s emphasis on the family, we need to look at a critical area of family life: Communication. Communication is to family life as location is to real estate. Good communication skills are seldom taught in school, yet it is the most needed skill a person could have in life. Some people were blessed with parents who modeled good communication skills in the home — unfortunately, most were not!

There is a big difference in communication skills and good communication skills. When I talk to couples about conflict resolution, I often see that, though they talk a lot, they don’t communicate effectively. Much talk can include bad habits of getting off the subject; generalizing behavior with words like: “You never” and “you always.” Good communication has a determined focus on the subject at hand. Good skills in this area will not use labels on the personhood of the family member. A good communicator senses when emotions are starting to get out of control and stops the conversation.

In our scripture for today, Jesus reminds us that every careless word we speak will be judged. That tells me that God is listening to our communication and wants us to be very careful in how we talk to one another. (Continued)

Father, I need your wisdom in getting better in my communication with my family. May I be conscious of your presence all day. In Jesus’ name, amen.