I (Eric) recently made a phone call to thank a couple for a gift they made to FamilyLife. It’s always interesting where that first call can go. I often have the pleasure of telling someone personally that their gift IS making a difference in marriage and families. Depending on the length of the call, I also get to learn more about the person who made the gift and why.
Well, this call turned out to be something very different than I had planned. The woman, Shelly [name changed], I spoke with was kind and was glad they could help FamilyLife. I could sense though there was more to the story, so I asked one of my favorite questions, “How can I pray for you?” Her response stopped me short – “Please pray for God to change my husband’s heart. In the next week I’m moving out with the kids!” So, my thank-you call quickly changed to a care call.
What would you have done?
I proceeded to Pray, Listen, Ask good questions, Consider biblical truth, and Encourage Shelly. Okay, maybe not everything on that list and not in that order, but I used these to guide our conversation. The “PLACE” principle are the five core skills recommended by FamilyLife in our “You can be a Mentor” booklet. This principle along with our FREE online Mentor Guide helped me through a very hard discussion.
Don’t get me wrong – Shelly’s problem is not solved. But her walk along the path might be a little better, because of my access to resources at FamilyLife, like the Mentor Guide. One of my questions for her – are you seeking out biblically centered counseling? She is starting that soon.
Would you pray for Shelly and Barry? Pray that God will help them walk the path to healing and restoration in their marriage.
Check out the resources mentioned:
FamilyLife eMentoring – http://www.familylife.com/ementoring
The Mentor Guide – http://mentorguide.familylife.com/
God bless you!