Points to improve communications
From the Desk of Father David
Dear Brother and Sisters in Christ,
Today as we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family we pray for all families. We belong to many families, including our parish family, and we ask God’s blessings on all of them. All families are based on faith in God, love, trust, good communication and willingness to forgive. We need faith in God because He is the only one who can keep our love strong, especially in difficult times, renew our trust, guide our communication, and give us the strength to forgive each other. Our love shows its strength in how much we are willing to make sacrifices for others. Here are some points to improve communication.
When talking:
Be specific about the time and event when you experienced that feeling; name the feeling and your ideas clearly; what caused that feeling? Take responsibility for your feelings & actions.
When listening try to hear:
The details about what the person is saying; what the person was/is feeling; what caused those feelings.
A few important thoughts to keep in mind:
*Seek first to understand, then to be understood.
*Watch out for roadblocks. A roadblock is a negative generalization. Be careful not to put up roadblocks, or get off track when someone else uses them.
We ask Jesus to give us a forgiving heart especially towards family and friends. May the Holy Family, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, bless and strengthen all families and give us the wisdom and peace so we can be a special blessing to our family members.
In Christmas peace,
Fr. David Bellittiere
