Conversations that upbuild

There are some special moments of communication between a parent and a child and this is one such occasions. It is a delight to watch such occasions. 

The mother was talking about going back home in the bus to play with his tricycle. This boy loved travelling in bus. While back at home he enjoys being pushed around in his tricycle. It is recall of memories of pleasant experiences between the mother and the child, that brought this joyful communication.

This gives an indication how relationships can be sustained and refreshed in a family setting. I have been making enquiries from families about their habits of family conversations. Most of the conversations are about events, difficulties or plans and much less of pleasant experiences or anecdotes. A lot of conversational times are around dining table, while watching TV or while travelling. 

There are few families who have dedicated conversational times during which times, each member of family shares memories of happy occasions, remembers others gratefully for their support during specific times of needs or narrates stories or anecdotes which brought encouragement. Such occasions contribute to grow in intimacy between members of the family  and create space for communication and upbuilding each other. One good story or pleasant experience invokes others to narrate similarly. 

We live and relate to a world of many conversations, presentations, arguments, accusations and conflicts. They unsettle, confuse or intimidate us. We need to speak to others to convey love, affection, appreciation and gratefulness. It is this which creates a fabric of character of mutuality and interdependence within  a family. This makes us more humble, less critical and grow in appreciation of others. 

We are under obligation to prayerfully seek ways to promote tolerance and collegiality in an atmosphere where competition, drivenness for success and self seeking have become acceptable social norms. 

It is children of today who would later decide the social character of communities. Let them listen to stories of gladness that would encourage them to flee from cynicism and trust the world to be their 'home'!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)