Growing Pains

James 1:2-4 'My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations. Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.'

Recently, I felt God's been teaching me new things regarding people and relating to them. All my life I've been a straight and stoic person, believing white is white and black is definitely black.

And I used to believe, by a flaw in thinking in my secondary school years, that people would be impressed by what's in your heart and not your outer appearances or the way you carry yourself. (that explains why I wasn't really popular in school *sigh*) But working as a server (or in other words, a waiter) forces me to observe people more, to see their wants, their needs and finally, how they interact with each other.

I found that the relationships that worked the best was when both parties enjoyed each others company and even bantered around the dining table with sarcasm and jokes, filling the table with laughter and fun. And although this is well known, I sometimes revert back to my old thinking, that people would be more impressed with my heart and not what I say or do. Thus, sometimes I would rather remain quiet or aloof with whatever's going on around me. But no more I guess.

If people aren't comfortable around me, how then could I even get through to them?I learnt that friendships can never be forced (yea, made that mistakes a few times dy *sigh*) but occurs when it's left to grow naturally. No doubt, the element to learning to relate, of being a gentleman and even teasing around does help nurture a friendship. And that explains why some people seem to have all the friends they would ever need and why some don't really have any.

I've been learning letting myself free from being stoic nowadays, which isn't myself, but just being my talkative, crappy, nonsensical and finally, sarcastic self. Man, it's only now that I'm learning this. (haha, might have been attached earlier if I only knew about this principles) It's been a tough journey through life experiences to be a better person, a better Christian, but God willing, I shall eventually be made perfect in Christ.

Let's enjoy our friendships~!

God Bless~