The Tractor

The Book of Ron Workbook · story 16 of 48

Read the story first: The Tractor.

Nugget of Wisdom

We will come to crossroads in life. At that crossroad, we can choose to be takers or givers. Take a moment, if you can, when you reach that crossroad, and what would God do?

As usual, start this session off with prayer within the group. Ask for God's guidance during the process. We're going to switch things up a little bit this time. What I want you to do throughout this process is to communicate with the group. What have you learned so far? By now you're starting to understand how our personalities are being developed. Can you start seeing core virtues that are being formulated through your stories? Try not to compare yours with mine. My life was filled more of hardship early in life, especially. It is what formulated my personality. By God's grace, it's what I endured. By God's grace, I did not endure more. Along the way, we will make choices in life. We're still responsible for the outcome of our development and for how we walk through life. The personalities we're discussing are what's going to make it compatible for each other. The feelings that you have are one of the most vital commodities that you will have. The more we desire to understand each other's feelings, I truly feel the closer our relationship can become.

Still feel free, if time remains, if not, at home or on the way home, tell your story. I would rather it not be one where something was taken. I want you to think compassionately about a time that you gave to someone at a moment where you saw that they needed something, where you were there and were able to give. What were the emotions you felt at that point? And if you've ever taken something, you don't have to say that, but what was the emotion you felt at that point? Compare the two and drop that into your growth tank.

1. Can you recall a specific moment when you chose to give instead of take? What led you to that decision?
2. What emotions did you feel in that moment of giving, and how did those emotions stay with you afterward?
3. Have you ever faced a situation where taking would have been easier? What did that feel like internally?
4. How do your past experiences shape the way you respond at crossroads today?
5. What is one small, intentional step you can take this week to choose giving when the opportunity presents itself?

Mission

There is one possible mission we could run this week if you would like to. You can just talk about it at home, or you can actually do it. Take his sock drawer, put all the socks in a bag, and tie them up. They are now your possession. They no longer belong to him. What is the emotion he is going to feel? You can sell his socks if you like. They are now your possession. What do you feel? Take all the makeup off of her counter, put it in a box. It is no longer hers. It belongs to you. What is the emotion she feels? And you now own it. You can sell it, distribute it, whatever you choose. What is the emotion you feel? Talk about this amongst each other. But as you walk through life, you will, each day, have the opportunity to take from each other, to deny each other, or to give to each other.

You now are starting to experience the feelings one step farther in growth. If this did occur and they said, “I’m sorry,” could you in fact forgive and forget? How scarred would you be? In exercising every principle that the Lord has taught you, how capable are you of erasing that scar within yourself and forgiving someone else?

As usual, close in prayer within the group, within yourselves. A recommended line in your own words would be something like this: Father, teach me to be able to give. Give me the ability to forgive. Guide me through my relationship, and allow me to understand how important the other person’s feelings are.