Recently Carrie and I participated in a gathering in which we were asked to “complete the following sentences.” One of the sentences began, “I am stubborn when…”

I wrote my answer. Then I asked Carrie what she wrote. We had the same answer, “I am stubborn when I am right.” Haha! The problem is when both of us think we’re right!

In 1 Corinthians Paul describes what love really looks like. One of the characteristics of love is:

“[Love] does not insist on its own way…”‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:5‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Even when I think I’m right, or have a better plan, I don’t have to have my way! Success may not be determined by which path you choose, but by the health of the relationship with the one with whom you are walking. 

Notwithstanding the fact that there are certain biblical principles that are are clearly defined as “right” and “wrong,” more times than not, there are a variety of approaches to the smaller decisions of life. 

In other words, more than one person can be “right”, even if they are different. Or, in the words of the old saying, “There’s more than one way to skin a cat.” (That phrase is quite disturbing, isn’t it?)

Today, let’s choose to love people by not demanding our own way. Maybe a different way is just the refreshment we need – and maybe it’s more about the person than the path anyway.