"Behold each other without expectation, or baggage,
or even honest need."
Start each encounter with a clean slate. Forgive past hurts. Don't read anything into their words but just take them at face value.
Go to the Lord to have your needs met. He is the only one who can truly fulfill them anyway. Any love, approval, acceptance, validation, comfort, encouragement--whatever you might need--go to the Lord for it instead of being hurt, disappointed or angry that you once again aren't getting what you need from that human relationship.
Then it might not be such a challenging relationship afterall.
I love this idea for all relationships. It's sometimes tempting for me to tweak my behavior with certain people- especially new people- but if I'm treating everyone as a blank slate and let go of any pre-conceived notions I may have of them, I'm free just to be myself.
ReplyDeleteThat may not have been your original point, but it's definitely how it struck me.
I love it.....always a battle though. I sometimes want humans to fulfill my needs and God reminds me daily that they can't!
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you both appreciated this thought as well. After posting it, I was afraid it might come across as rather cynical (just don't expect anything from anyone) and that wasn't my intent. I have just observed that in myself, most of my hurts or disappointments come from expecting too much of a human rather than relying on God alone.
ReplyDeleteAnd "free to be myself"--yes, Kristy, the older I get, the more I value just being myself.
Behold. I needed to read this post today. Just at this very moment, in fact.
ReplyDeleteExcellent! I needed to read this, too. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThat's something I should write on my walls for these next few weeks!Thanks!
ReplyDelete