Be Gentle in Your Assertiveness
Christians somehow think being assertive is a bad idea but I think the problem is more about how you deliver your assertiveness. Most people use a rude or angry tone. Try being gentle. With a former spouse you might calmly say, "Please stop sharing your opinions about my family with our child. You're putting him in the middle and I know you don't want to hurt him. Thanks." It's okay to be assertive-even Jesus was assertive. Just take out the rude and put in the gentle. In love, speak the truth.
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About the Guest
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Christians somehow think being assertive is a bad idea but I think the problem is more about how you deliver your assertiveness. Most people use a rude or angry tone. Try being gentle. With a former spouse you might calmly say, "Please stop sharing your opinions about my family with our child. You're putting him in the middle and I know you don't want to hurt him. Thanks." It's okay to be assertive-even Jesus was assertive. Just take out the rude and put in the gentle. In love, speak the truth.
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Ron Deal
Ron L. Deal is one of the most widely read and viewed experts on blended families in the country. He is Director of FamilyLife Blended® for FamilyLife®, founder of Smart Stepfamilies™, and the author and Consulting Editor of the Smart Stepfamily Series of books including the bestselling Building Love Together in Blended Families: The 5 Love Languages® and Becoming Stepfamily Smart (with Dr. Gary Chapman), The Smart Stepfamily: 7 Steps to a Healthy Family, and Preparing to Blend. Ron is a licensed marriage and family therapist, popular conference speaker, and host of the FamilyLife Blended podcast. He and his wife, Nan, have three sons and live in Little Rock, Arkansas. Learn more at FamilyLife.com/blended.
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Try being gentle in your assertiveness.
