Have you ever been pricked by the words of a friend? Perhaps you have pricked someone by your words. It happens easier than you may think. Communication is an art that takes practice, practice, and more practice. We can say a loving comment in an unloving way and cause pain instead of encouragement.

Communication is a two-way street. Some people think that a misunderstanding is the problem of the listener but that’s not necessarily true. I have played a game with people that really reveals our need for better communication – most people are shocked at the discovery.

I remember my son asking me to pick him up at a mall entrance several years ago. The problem was we both had a different entrance in mind. We both had a clear picture of a certain entrance but neither of us communicated well enough to make sure we were talking about the same entrance. This is one example of poor communication.

I chuckle to myself when I hear people talking about large dogs – weighing 60-100 pounds. That’s not what I consider a large dog – at least not after having a 260 pound dog! Words paint pictures in our minds but our experiences help form those pictures. Everyone’s experience is a little different.

The more we practice good communication skills the less conflict we will have with others. After all, we want our words to express encouragement, comfort, and love to others.