Respect for Differences

Today's Thought

You are reading from the book Touchstones.

It is not a question of how a husband and wife can be equal and alike. But rather, it is a problem of how a couple can be equal and different--Pierre Mornell

In seeking closeness with loved ones, we have often made the mistake of looking only for similarities. Although common ground helps understanding, we must learn how to get close to others by "borrowing their eyes and ears." We expand our understanding of others by accepting that what we see, hear, think, and feel will not be exactly what anyone else does. We can deepen our relationships by exchanging our experiences with others.

We don't have to agree on everything. Simply learning about each other's differences and letting each other know that we hear and understand will create a feeling of intimacy.

I will be receptive and appreciate differences in those I love.

This moring was talking to a friend about how very different my husband and I are.....then came across this reading. God sends ya what you need. Just have to keep your eyes open so you see it. This really hit home. Living with that man for going on 22 years now has really taught me about respecting the differences in others. It was something I buried for a while when I was using. Thanks to sobriety and AA it has come back to life. There are son many things he does that he does that are so very wrong in my opinion but I have learned to respect that those are his beliefs and I love him inspite of the differences. In the program I have learned to concentrate on the positives rather then the negatives. That pricipal has carried over into my everyday and the people with whom I cross paths with. When I am looking for the positive I am looking for the message God wants me to here. There is a lesson, message, or gift to be found in every person I encounter and that is because I have respect for the differences, but look for the positives.