Relationship 101: Communication Skills vs. Relationship Skills ...

(ModelMeGirl.com)

Human beings are social by design. It has nothing to do with evolution; but everything to do with how God created us.

Some of us have mastered the art of communication by modeling the behavior of others; exposure to or immersion into highly social families, situations and environments; and lastly, by formal education.

We hear phrases like, ?You?re just like your mother or father.? Some of these ?just likes,? which I like to call them, are innate. Others are learned and mirrored.

This can be the same with communication skills. Some of us have a natural gift and others have to be trained more diligently.

Communication Skills vs. Relationship Skills

Communication skills and relationship skills differ in many ways; but we tend to lump them together.

Communication is sharing a message. This involves sending, receiving and decoding the message.

The girl on the other end of the phone, who works in customer service, may have stellar communication skills when it comes to dealing with customers on the job. But her relationship skills, when it comes to building and maintaining friendships or connections, may suck.

A display of communication skills can easily be just for show. The question is, ?Can you relate to people on a deeper, kinder, forgiving and empathetic level??

If you ever watched the movie, ?Rush Hour,? you may recall when Chris Tucker?s character asked Jackie Chan?s character, ?Do you understand the words that are coming out of my mouth?? That was an attempt at successful communication.

Relationship skills ask, ?Do you understand the words that are coming out of my heart??

Matthew 12:34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. (KJV)

Relationship skills rely on communication skills. Yet, you can have communication without having a relationship. Solid relationship skills display truth, humility, compassion, respect, forgiveness, interest, time and commitment. You see the key is this: Relationship skills depend on understanding and perception.

Isaiah 6:9?He said, ?Go and tell this people: ??Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.? (NIV)

Many people speak and pray to God. They are communicating. But the same people may not have a relationship with Him. They may come to God out of habit or as a chore; and not from a place of love and neediness. They may not worship or praise God; or even read their Bible to grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. When you attain deeper knowledge about anyone, your relationship matures.

You may live in the house with your children or spouse. Or you may be a young girl and live with your parents. You may speak to them everyday?communication. But do you really know them? Do you spend purposeful and quality time with them? Do you have unity? Do you have a relationship?

God & Relationships

Every one of the Ten Commandments that God gave has to do with relationships?how we relate to others.

1. How we relate to God
2. How we relate to people

When you relate to someone, you have a connection that is beyond superficial. Being able to relate to someone is the start of building a healthy relationship. You are involved and concerned, at some degree, with that person and his or her life.

God loves young women, and He is concerned about our relationships?with Him and with the people around us. Some of us have been broken into so many pieces; we don?t know what to do with ourselves. The enemy of our souls would love nothing more than for shattered dreams, disappointments and broken hearts to turn into bitterness, resentment, grudges and hate.

Relationship Woes? Let God Fix You

If you?re looking for God to fix a broken relationship in your life, consider this. First, He wants to start with you. God wants to fix your relationship with Him. So often we say, ?Lord, work on that person, that person, and that person.? But we may be the most pitiful one of them all. Allow God to start with you, and He will work out relationships in your life. It is an invitation to lead you down the path of righteousness. In case you?re wondering, righteousness is about having a right standing with God?a relationship.

Whether or not someone else meets you half-way, you?ll be able to hold up your end of any relationship and be pleasing to God if you allow Him to work on you.

Stay tuned for more Relationship 101 with Model Me Girl.

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