Unconditionally You

This modern ‘mindset’ seems to be popular, hey? I’ve seen it so much on social media ‘mommy’ pages, and it makes my left eyeball twitch a bit.

Should we only keep people in our lives who feed us? So long as someone will serve us, great- but if not, then ‘hit the road!’ So what about the people in our lives who struggle socially and yet still need to be loved?

I may be preaching to the choir here (our church community is pretty amazing) but isn’t there is a difference between allowing someone a position of influence in our life versus just allowing someone in your life?

Are healthy boundaries sometimes required?

Yes.

Do we excuse and remain in abusive situations?

Obviously not.

....But do I really need to ‘cut’ people out of my life because they don’t ‘make’ me happy?

If I can only feel as good as other people are willing to treat me - if my satisfaction is dependant who is around me - then I’m in serious trouble.

You want to know how to improve a relationship with someone who is struggling socially? Love them well anyways. Try to exemplify healthy engagement. 

Here's a great trick for learning how to do this: Figure out how you would treat this challenging person if they weren’t acting out- and then endeavour to treat them that way unconditionally.

Be true to who YOU are.

You know what can impact an immature person profoundly?

Being kind to them when they haven't deserved it.

I know who showed profound, undeserved grace to me in my life...

and it wasn’t just Jesus.

by Kasie Frans