i love to LIVE because i live to LOVE!

Fireproof

I had the chance to watch the most inspirational movie of 2008: Fireproof. This movie is a great resource to help strengthen and affirm marriages.

It is about a fire fighter who lives by the old fire fighter’s adage: Never leave your partner behind. While his work is inside burning buildings, his marriage was as cold as ice. Everyone treats him as a hero for saving lives, but not at his own home. He rescued many but not his wife’s heart.

Until his father tried to save their marriage by giving him a “40-day love dare” that he should do before signing up the divorce paper filed by his wife. It is a day-to-day challenge on how to keep their marriage. Taking one day at a time, he did every single task, however, there were times that he wanted to stop and just blow it. It was also then that He realized that he cannot love without first accepting the truth that God loves him and that He is interested in every single detail of his life. Not by his own effort that he can love back his wife but the love of God within him flowing over to his wife.

To make the story short, this proud, self-centered, conceited man was transformed to become a loving, selfless and faithful husband. How he did it? I think the lyrics of the sound track While I’m Waiting by John Waller says it all.

I'm waiting

I'm waiting on You, Lord

And I am hopeful

I'm waiting on You, Lord

Though it is painful

But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident

Taking every step in obedience

While I'm waiting

I will serve You

While I'm waiting

I will worship

While I'm waiting

I will not faint

I'll be running the race

Even while I wait

Watch it and be blessed.

I Earned

Handling people is never an easy task. We need to adapt to their culture, their thinking, their values.

Recently, I had difficulty dealing with one of my UTs. I wanted to get into a relationship with him as his facilitator but I just can't get his cooperation. I've been praying for him for days. Asking God to break the ice between us. We belong to one team so I need him to become a team player. Not play the game on his own. Even if he is the MVP.

So yesterday, as I had a comm session with him, as usual, I did the most effective way of correcting behaviour - the sandwich approach. Good -> Bad -> Good. Sandwich the bad things with good things. Before I discussed with him the areas on which he needs to improve on, I made a series of appreciation and good remarks on how well he performs. After that, I went to the most sensitive part. Letting him know his flaws. Very carefully, I told him his lapses. Subsequently, after saying all those, I ended the conversation by telling him how important he is in the team and how significant his role is in the entire Value Stream.

After the session, I can say that I finally earned his respect. Maybe because he realized that I care for him as his facilitator, that I did an effort to resolve the issues. Or maybe I made him realized his worth. Or maybe he felt good when I appraciated all his efforts. Whatever the reason was, I am glad that he is showing respect to me now. He's not attending meetings with long face anymore. He has become cooperative and proactive. And that made me say, "Thank you Lord!".

God is good! I call, He answers!