Tragedy Builds Strong Relationships

By Michael Blair,

For years the great teachers have been telling us that the number one best relationship development opportunity is crisis. For example, Gary Smalley surveyed 10,000 families and they reported that camping was the most helpful family activity. Why? Because there is always at least one crisis while camping…cuts and bruises, broken bones, broken boats and equipment, lost in the woods and so on. So today as our country goes through the unbelievable crisis surrounding the attacks out east, we see along with all the pain an increase in focus on what really matters most…our primary relationships at home and in our immediate family and friend circles.
Church attendance is like at Christmas and loyalty to our families and friends and country is nearly a 10 by comparison.

While we are determined to deal appropriately with those who have done the damage, this is a time for working through our grief together and a time to, upon re-evaluation, shore up and regenerate quality relationships in every way possible for all of the obvious reasons.

Our radio show on the 15th of September featured Dr. Jeffry Larson, Ph.D. and his book entitled Should We Stay Together? And let us all take the Relate Relationship Questionaire at relate.byu.edu and take a scientific look at where we are and where we can improve our chances for long-term success. Maybe it’s time for most of us to carefully and intelligently work on our relationships instead of leaving it all to the automatic happenchance of most lives. Is this an opportunity for all of us to stop and fertilize and water and nurture important personal and relationship aspects of our lives? I think so.

Congratulations to the local singles groups that seem to be developing nicely. Give me a call if I can be of any further help.
May all of us stop sweating the small stuff and make the most of this life for us and those around us. God bless us and America and the World at this time of war. See you soon here or on the radio.