I woke up this morning to snow which was so fitting considering I had a dream last night that I rode a sled to Texas. Let’s hope that’s not any type of foreshadowing. It was a rough ride!
Did I ever tell you I lived in Texas once? I lived right around Dallas and moved there after a brief stint in Denver after college. I loved living there. The marriage I was in at the time though, was not good and it made for some pretty terrible living conditions.
After moving back home to Pennsylvania, I still feel like I’m getting used to snow…especially in April. I figure though, it’s the world’s April fool’s joke for the day and instead of complaining about it, I have decided to find delight in it all instead.
The pastor yesterday talked about a lot of things in church, but one thing he did talk about was downers. And boundaries.
Do you ever feel like you have a hard time establishing boundaries with people?
I used to have the very worst time with this. Over time and with prayer and practice though, I have become better, more aware, and it has saved me a lot of pain.
A lot of times, we just want to help people, but we end up at the root of their problems somehow without any type of life raft. Pastor Mike yesterday talked a lot about playing the hand(s) that we are dealt…and in the end, we all must do this. FOR OURSELVES. Our problems are (in the end) just our own.
“What do you want to do about it?” he said. He explained that after listening to people and their many issues, that that was the end all question he would ask them. And in the end if they weren’t ready to take responsibility, there would be a perfect opportunity for him to create a boundary. It may seem hard, but instead of throwing yourself into the fire, it’s best to pull back in situations where people aren’t ready to help themselves. Pray for them and love them but understand that you can’t save them. It is not your job.
I have no idea how I got onto this conversation. But there it is— the message for the day.
It makes me nervous sometimes to wake up each day, get clear to my computer and STILL NOT KNOW what I’m going to write about. Maybe this shows. I don’t know. But either way, I do not plan out what I’m about to say. I pray about it a lot though. I pray before bed to “bless my blog” the following morning so I hope that whatever you take away from these blogs is something you feel has been blessed. That is the whole point. To share ourselves and our journeys with one another; to help carry one another’s burdens—but with boundaries. And Amen to that!
I thank you Lord for the newness of each day and even though there is snow outside, I rejoice that spring is still here and so are You. Please help me to look for the hidden needs of others today and give me the opportunity to serve. Amen.
“Through love serve one another.” Galatians 5:13
Party Gatherings 