The DIY Guide To Building A Family That Lasts - A 6-Day DevotionalSample

Home improvement goal:

Negotiate conflict.

Home improvement tool:

Seek compromise.

Conflict is inevitable simply because we are humans. We have different thoughts, feelings, preferences and opinions. The key to family harmony is learning to negotiate conflicts without damaging our relationship. This is where the home improvement tool of compromise is so helpful.

Why compromise?

“I’m tired of fighting.” This statement is one that Shannon and I frequently hear in counseling. That sentiment is also a top reason people are willing, or should be willing, to consider compromise as a valuable home improvement tool. If you’re tired of fighting, at some point you have to learn to compromise.

Some people are naturally good at compromise. They may have grown up with positive role models who demonstrated healthy compromise habits, or they may have learned through their own trial and error that compromise was the way to go. Other people compromise too much, meaning they give everyone else their way simply to avoid an argument. Still other people rarely compromise. They’re more of the “my way or the highway” kind of people.

How are you at compromise? Are you doing well and don’t need to make any changes? If so, congratulations on already having the tool of compromise in your relationship toolbox! Make that work for you as you lead your family in the art of compromise.

If you need to step up your efforts at compromise, what will you do to take action? As you already know, we have to be assertive with our home improvement efforts—it is truly a do-it-yourself project. Why? Because, unlike installing new carpet, we can’t hire someone else to come in and change our attitude or cause us to view conflict as a step rather than a pest—we have to do this work for ourselves.