Have you ever had conflict? Have you ever been frustrated with someone? Has the conflict been hurtful? Conflict is all around: Roommates, classmates, soulmates. Teammates, coworkers, family, kids sports, church family, neighbors, the Oscars! Political worldviews, personal worldview. Parents don’t get their children and children don’t get their parents. 

I am a person who likes to tell stories and usually these stories have meaning at the end. Today, I want to give examples of how our pets can actually be crazy demanding and actually mirror the way I am with people or people are towards me. We are cat people.  Our cats sometimes teach me a little about myself and how to navigate the people, or pets, that bother me.

·      Expect to take risks—every problem will not be solved, every person will not love you, and there is not a pot of gold at the end of every conflict. Sometimes, things do not get resolved easily or ever. It is risky to desire peace and bring up a tough subject with someone in your life.

·      Expect to be humbled. Often, when I deal with conflict in my own life, one of the biggest problems that I deal with is myself. We need to learn that many times the conflict is not necessarily just one person, but at times it could be.

·      Expect to ask forgiveness. You will hurt people. We are all flawed and have issues. Get used to it, but do not give up. People can change.

·      Expect to work. Do NOT think that resolving conflict is easy. It involves compromise, understanding, listening, and time. Get messy and work at having tough conversations with people you love.

Thanks for listening!