When it comes to giving credit to those who deserve it, at least as far as I am concerned, I give it wholeheartedly to the early missionaries to Africa! How come? Here’s why!
1. They left their comfort zones and went to countries with a lot of challenges.
2. They took the pain and challenge to learn the culture and language of the people.
3. The studied the needs and concerns of the people.
4. They mingled with the villagers, ate their food, and sometimes dressed like them so as to win them!
5. They accepted the people the way they were and worked hard to change some of their ways of doing things
By comparison, many of us have failed to learn from their successful strategies. Here’s how!
1. Many people once they have migrated, take a long time, if not for ever to learn to adjust to the new culture and way of doing things. Even after many years at a new place, their way of reasoning and doing stuff remains more of the same.
2. There are spouses who take a long time to get to know one another and never graduate in their conflict resolution skills. They fight over the same thing time and again! None of them is wise enough to come up with
a different strategy!
3. There are many out there who have lost wonderful friends due to their negative attitude. Instead of learning how and why their friends like/dislike their way of doing stuff, they annoy almost everybody!
And so what’s the solution! Here’s my take!
1. Any time you move to a new place, like the Early missionaries, learn the culture, language and the way things are done!
2. If you want to have a friend from a certain culture, then you have no choice but do your best to fit into their culture!
3. If for some reason people don’t like you, try to find out why. If the problem is yours, do something and change it. If it’s theirs, see how you can fit in.
4. Know that people don’t care who you are until they know that you care, respect and have a positive attitude.
5. After so many years of being married, you should have by now known what material your souse is made of. Instead of trying to change him/her, why not start with yourself!
6. All relationships depends on give and take. Avoid the temptation of expecting too much from others when yo yourself don’t see the need to change your way of seeing/doing things!
The bottom line is that let us learn something from the early missionaries to Africa! Yea, more than that, let us learn and imitate the man of Galilee, who was excellent in meeting people where they were and doing everything possible to help them become better people!
I want to continue my enrollment in the school of Jesus, where I can continue learning the ABC of living a happy daily life by making everybody around me happy! How about you dear one!
Just a thought!
Pr Birai
612-386-4608
www.themaranathasdachurch.org
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Date: Sun, 2 Nov 2008 03:36:24 -0800 (PST)
From: Absalom Birai
Subject: Re: And the credit goes to……!