R E L A T I O N S H I P S was designed with you in mind. That’s my conclusion of the whole matter.
I once gave a definition of relationship in a gathering. I said “Relationships are ships we all get into for a purpose – to relate.” Everyone laughed but a flash back to that statement brings to light the truth in it. Advanced Learner’s Dictionary defines relationship as the way in which two or more things (living or non-living) are connected and affect each other. This invariably connotes a point of contact within a system, for a period of time, to bring about a positive or negative result due to the association.
Relationships are everywhere and no matter how hard we try, we cannot dissociate ourselves from this ubiquitous party. Little wonder Antoine De Saint Exupery’s words holds true. He said “Man is a knot into which relationships are tied.” You need not look too far before you observe that relatioship is a universal phenomenon which is equally embraced by the heavenlies. Jesus said “the father and I are one.” This truth has always been so, for it is written “In the beginning was the word, the word was with God and the word was God.” Wow, thisindeed is a lasting union forged by relationship.
The word RELATIONSHIP is an almagamated character derived from the word RELATION and SHIP. These two words have something in common – CONNECTION is it. They help to connect ideas, goods, services, continents and the list goes on. Ask our Language students, they will tell you that it is not enough to know the semantics of language in relating with native speakers, but also a proper usage of tone, which will generate desired response and further the communication process. So also is a ship designed to bridge gaps between cities helping to connect men with resources and vice versa.
Relationships in its purest form is exciting, it builds up, is enriching and delivers results – quality results, but the flip side of this kind of ship…….. Yes, there is always the other side. This is the part which shows us the work side. Relationships that bloom requires commitment of purpose, dedication of time and investment of resources, all of which will bear on our resolve. Whether we faint or gain depends on the strength of our character.
Permit me to point out at this juncture that those blooming relationships which we admire today are not a product of perfect match – Nobody is perfect, neither are they born out of sheer luck nor such relationships borne on unadultrated love wings.They are being constantly groomed by work. Not necessarily hard work, but what is evidently right work. I have always believed that there is no substitute for work in furthering a relationship. Work is what yields results and not hope. Work gives you a sense of worth and brings satisfaction. Celebrated diarist, Anne Frank, in The Diary of a Young Girl said “Laziness might appear attractive, but work gives satisfaction.” The satisfaction that you did the bit you could do.
Next week, we will discuss the value of relationships while we make parallel comparisms of relationships and Sea-worthy ships. I mean ocean liners. But before then, Food for thought. An incident happened yesterday to me and it dampened my high spirits, but thank God for my wife! Yes, it’s good to be married. She has been a blessing to me. She just sat me down and she began to minister to me, i mean words of grace and by the time she was through with me, boy…. I could only bless God that I was married to such a gem. One of the things she told me was “Folks who don’t give expect much from others, but givers expect very little from others.”
Do have a most rewarding week. You desrve it. God bless you.
01/07/2012 01:06:15