*THE THING WITH CLOSE PEOPLE(PART 1)*

* We all have families that know us right from the get go.
* We all have people in our lives that we *'sooo'* respect & are very shy of. (Mostly,this relates to older people)

* We all have familiar people that we are used to.
* We *all*(_maybe not all) but we have close friends that we share minutest detail of our lives with.

*One of the difficult things in life is to be straight with such people,point out their wrongs,be sincere with them &above all witness or draw them to Christ.*(Part 2 tomorrow will look at the witnessing part.)

I can see how often you've disagreed in silence with that mentor or respected elder yet you keep on nodding to whatever he says.

Families,friends-would they even listen?...we know your greatest frailties&falls so where from this holier than thou...?

This is where i believe the whole narrative should change.
The key solution STARTS right from the relationship we have.

For our families & the people we look up to or respect; it has become a cultural thing to swallow whatever they say with hook,line &sinker.

_First, we know that at the initial stages, our families will be tough on us,very controlling &all that. That is needed but even around that time& as we grow,they should take the below into account._(This also goes for those we respect or shy of who have the better advantage)

_They should be real with their lives(be the *christian* that they are), be sincere,get down to the level of the younger ones & get to understand them._

_Also,make it a habit to *intentionally* engage them or allow them to speak their minds even about the elders themselves._

_It will amaze you what a 5-year will tell you about yourself if allowed within a conducive environment,let alone a 15-year old which can be a basis for a lot of necessary changes._

_With this,there is joy,friendliness&openness as the respect,recognition&love is also not lost._

As the relationship is clearly redefined in this manner,the younger ones will see the difference from the norm&this will clearly have a huge  impact on them.

So friends will always be friends.Chat,fool& move together.
That deep familiarity will be created *BUT* both should take a conscious decision to check&evaluate the relationship from time to time.

This is especially when one points out a wrong or new measure to embark on.This should be something you do often.It should  be part of the familiarisation/ friendship.

*Romans 12:10- 'Be devoted to one another in brotherly love ;give preference to one another in honour.*

*SO I SAY:*
*NOW YOU KNOW...THIS IS THE THING WITH CLOSE PEOPLE*