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The 90/10 principle of Stephen Covey really blessed me so much. It has become a rhema (living word) to me since the first time I’ve heard it through Pastor Andoy Docena’s illustration during a Sunday service. I have shared this once to a co-teacher, and the same way it blessed me, it has become more than a blessing to her also. Every time she’s confronted with mixed issues and problems, she immediately quote the 90/10 principle. I can say that it has become part of her system already as well as it is in mine.
Our situation in life is how we perceive it. Remember that perception is a crafty matter. In fact, it can be most misleading at times. If you look at a glass of water that is exactly level at the middle, Will you describe it as being half-empty or half-full? It doesn’t change the level of the water in the glass, but it does have a lot to do with your point of view.
Too many of us have taken on a very cynical view of life. Our perception of the things can make or break us or it can build or ruin us. This is simply an idea that a correct perception and outlook will affect the way we approach life.
I have read a story about a young family who invited a new pastor and his wife for a get-acquainted Sunday dinner. This story blessed me so much that not sharing it would leave me a loser. It would be depriving me of the privilege that God wants me to be an instrument on making a difference. This is related to the 90/10 principle of Stephen Covey.
The mother of the home was quite concerned that this be a perfect affair. So, what she did was to drill the children days in advance about their proper behavior, what utensils to use, when to use them, and other important aspects.
Finally, the day arrived and the meal was prepared, and at exactly the right time everyone was invited to come into the dining room where the table was formally set with a white lace table cloth, the best china ware, good silverware, centerpiece, and everything. They all sat down at the beautiful, formal table and the father uttered the prayer of blessing. And when the blessing was over, their little nine-year-old daughter reached for her glass of iced tea and knocked it over!
The little brother jumped to get out of the way of the spilling tea and knocked his glass over, too! There was an awkward moment of silence as everybody sort of looked to the mother, realizing how disappointed she must be. She had gone to so much trouble and now there was this huge spreading stain in the middle of the white lace tablecloth.
But before anybody could say anything, the father flipped his glass of tea over, and began to laugh. The preacher caught on and flipped over his tea and started to laugh. The pastor’s wife knocked over her glass of tea and joined the laughter. Then . . . everybody looked to the mother and finally with an expression of resignation she picked up her glass and just dumped it out in the middle of the table and everybody around the table roared with laughter.
And the father looked down at his nine-year-old daughter, right beside him, and he winked at her. And as she laughed embarrassedly, she looked up at her father and winked back, but as she did, it flicked a tear onto her check and it rolled down her face. She continued to look up, almost worshipfully, at a father who loved her enough to be sensitive to save her from one of life’s most embarrassing moments.
Should the father have manifested the negative reaction after his nine year old daughter knocked the glass of iced tea, it should not have been the thing. The daughter must have been pained so much. The mother’s instinct upon seeing her daughter in pain would have been bruised by the negative reaction or maybe words. The visitors might have felt disgusted about the situation. The dinner must have been messed up should the father reacted negatively.
The 90/10 principle by Stephen Covey would always remain a living guidance in every way and in every circumstance I would be encountering in life. And if we do this, we are helping build faith and love in our hearts. And even people around us would be blessed. I wish a lot of people could practically live by this principle and so help make the world a little bit better place to live in.
One more time . . . love comes to the rescue! Love does not embarrass another. Such behavior should not be a part of our living together . . . whether directed to a spouse or children or extended family or any other friends! Love does not embarrass someone else! To embarrass another is to put him/her down. How can you show love and at the same time cause embarrassment?
1 John 4:7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.
Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
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