Devotional - Dealing with squabbles - Part 2!

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” (Psalms 133:1) 

Message:

Is there anything more draining than children or adults that squabble? 

Bickering… 

Making sarcastic comments… 

The attacks often come from insecurity; from being hurt by others; from being over aroused and not regulated; because of not knowing how to respond more appropriately. 

There are so many levels we need to work on! 

1 tip for this week: 

The Power of Acceptance.

Imagine: 

Your child or loved one is frustrated, 

angry, 

hurt or 

confused 

and tells you all about what happened, 

their emotions radiating from their every facial expression and gesture. 

Our tip for this week is to try to accept these emotions with them, and alongside them. 

Try to avoid: 

• immediately suggesting solutions,
  
  
• providing reasons why they shouldn’t feel as they do,
  
  
• reasons why the situation isn’t as bad as they think it is,
  
  
• or even reasons why they will feel better soon. 

Instead, simply try to communicate that you hear and accept what they are feeling without judgement. 

For children, instead of ‘well if Tyler speaks rudely to you, you should find another friend or tell a teacher’, try ‘wow, I can hear in your voice that you are really hurting inside because of the words he said to you’. 

When anyone's emotions are accepted and validated, they are more likely to be able to let that emotion flow naturally past rather than getting stuck, and to be then able to move on to being more reflective and finding solutions to the problem themselves - or with your help.  

Point to Ponder:

Do you feel validated and accepted for what you are going through? Do join us today - especially if the answer is no.

Prayer:

“Heavenly Father, You are source of our identity, our worth, our value. Thank you, that you accept us just as we are, for just being alive, even just for hanging in their sometimes when the going gets tough, and how often you just want to say to us "I hear you". Thank you that others here in Christian Sensory Support are dedicated to listening and being here for me too. In Jesus name, Amen!”