“March winds and April showers bring May flowers.” That’s the Old English Country saying we know so well.
The month of April is best known for its rain showers, which prepare the earth for a beautiful and flower filled May. Winter is gone and now we can greet each sunny and warm day with enthusiasm.
How do you relate to others at work?
When the trees start to bud and flower, it’s a good time to take stock of who you are and how you relate to others at work. Consider the following questions:
- What happens to you physically when you hear the word, “conflict”?
- As a Christian, do you find disagreement, anger, verbal fights, and all kinds of rude behavior baffling?
- What about dealing with difficult people in your career—are they irritating or depressing?
- Does conflict cause you to feel victimized and out of control?
- What do you do when strangling a difficult person isn’t an option?
- How do you handle those people who are well-intentioned dragons or bona-fide jerks that tend to negatively impact your Christian career?
What are your answers? Did these questions ring a discordant bell?
April Conflict Showers
Well, let’s think of conflict, disagreement, and all the other ugly behaviors that go “bump in the night” as April showers.
Using the phrase, “April showers bring May flowers” when describing conflict, we are reminded of the fact that some unpleasant occurrences bring about better things.
In high school, I learned a concept or law of physics that stated “no two objects can occupy the same space at the same time.”
Conflict occurs when two objects attempt to occupy the same space at the same time! Conflict develops even among the finest of people. Whenever there is disagreement, a difference of opinion, a different approach, a departure from the “way we do things around here”, there is conflict.
While we cannot control or change others, we can take responsibility for our own actions, attitudes, and behavior when dealing with difficult people.
Communication Makes Relationship Flowers Bloom
Everywhere flowers bloom the outside world becomes bright and beautiful. There is perfect communication—the sun communicates with the wind and rain to produce a climate that nurtures and causes the flowers to flourish. The bees communicate with the flowers through pollination to enable profuse growth.
This is also true of conflict. Wherever conflict exists, no matter what its cause or kind, communication has played a key role. More specifically, bad communication has either sparked the conflict or fueled the fire. There are silent disagreements, but there is virtually never a silent war.
Just as there cannot be open conflict without conversation, there cannot be reconciliation without conversation. Good communication promotes open dialogue that does not leave others powerless; it focuses on the problem not the person. It says my behavior also reflects my words—my words and actions are one.
Yes, April conflict showers can bring wonderful May relationship flowers! So don’t worry about it being a little bit rainy. It will be worth it when all the flowers and trees burst forth in all their springtime glory. I hope you have lots and lots of good relationship flowers!
“I just love those April showers
Crying tears for pretty flowers
And so I’ll sing to each cloud burst
Go on and rain on Winter’s thirst.
For soon the sun will mix a brew
That blooms in May with morning dew
A garden radiating shine
Aromas of God’s finest wine.” –Author Unknown
