When we are cooking dinner, having a snack, or making various food choices, our kids often ask, “Is this healthy for me?”  While I’d like to say the answer to that question is always yes, we sometimes choose the less healthy option. The other question we get goes something like this: “How can this possibly be good for me? It sure doesn’t taste good.”

 

Conflict resolution is a lot like those food choices.  We can make healthy choices when handling conflict. There will also be times when dealing with conflict seems like a bitter pill, but good can come of it.

Healthy choices when facing conflict:

• Talk it out. Go ahead, have that hard conversation.
  • Cover the conversation with grace.
  • Pray and be willing to forgive.
• Overlook it. Sometimes this is an acceptable option.
  • Was the offense intentional?  
  • Will it leave a long-lasting effect on you?
• Get help.Occasionally this is the only way to deal with a tough situation.
  • Are you or someone else in danger?
  • Can you still think rationally about the situation? 
  • Do you need another perspective?

Good things that come from conflict resolution:

• A better understanding of the person/situation
• A strengthened relationship
• An opportunity to glorify God

Making good choices gets easier the more we do it. The same goes with conflict resolution.

While we may or may not write things on our to-do list, just so we can check them off, I don’t know anyone who starts fights just to practice their conflict resolution skills. In fact, we often do the opposite. If we are in the midst of a peaceful situation, we want to keep it that way.  Just the other day, Amy Lynn Andrews posted this as her Facebook status:

There were 130 of us that liked her status, agreeing that we like to keep the peace as well. I too have considered cancelling everything just to enjoy the peace, but we need to get into the habit of practicing peace and keeping up with those healthy choices when we are faced with conflict.
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