Gentleman007
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“The best worst friends”
Siblings have been called “the best worst friends you’ll ever have.” You love them, and they love you—but sometimes you just can’t seem to get along. “My younger brother annoys me,” says 18-year-old Helena. “He knows exactly which buttons to push and when to push them to get the biggest rise out of me!”Some sibling conflicts can be solved with simple communication and negotiation skills. For example:
- Two brothers who share a room might argue over privacy. The solution? Learn to compromise and allow each other needed space. Apply the Bible principle found at You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now..
- Two sisters might “borrow” each other’s clothing items without asking. The solution? Talk it out and set reasonable boundaries. Apply the Bible principle found at You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now..
- Miriam and Aaron were jealous of their brother, Moses, with tragic results. Read the account at You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.. Then ask yourself: ‘How can I keep from being jealous of my sibling?’
- Cain’s anger grew to the point that he murdered his brother Abel. Read the account at You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.. Then ask yourself: ‘How can I control my anger when dealing with my brother or sister?’
Two reasons to make peace
No matter how hard it is to get along with your siblings, there are at least two reasons why it’s worth the effort.- It’s a sign of maturity. “I used to have a short fuse with my two younger sisters,” says a young man named Alex. “Now I’m much more calm and patient with them. You could say I’ve grown up.”
The Bible says: “The one who is slow to anger has great discernment, but the impatient one displays his foolishness.”—You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.. - It’s good training for the future. If you can’t tolerate the imperfections of your siblings, how will you deal with a spouse, a workmate, an employer, or anyone else you have to interact with?
Fact of life: The success of your future relationships will depend on your ability to communicate and negotiate, and there’s no better place to cultivate such skills than within your family.
The Bible says: “As far as it depends on you, be peaceable.”—You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now..
What your peers say
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“I have three sisters, and I can say that maintaining a good relationship with them isn’t always easy. At the same time, I’ve come to realize that these are the people who know me best and who will always be there for me.”—Jessica.
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“There are times when I get on my brother’s nerves or he gets on mine. But I do love my brother. He has always been the kind of person who builds up my confidence. I admire his determination—he doesn’t give up, and he always goes the extra mile.”—Tyler.
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“I like to be around people, so having two little brothers is nice. Because they’re boys, being around them has taught me a lot about how to treat those who aren’t like me. I’m really fortunate to have such great brothers.”—Cameo.