Boundaries

Relationships bring out the best in us and the worst in us and they provide great joy and great pain. This is a part of our journey as we navigate life with others. The good news is that Christ can make us better through all of this; therefore, we embrace relationships with sincerity and hope.

Boundaries create space for us to be healthy with ourselves and with others. This is huge with people that are like us and those who are different. The challenge is, we struggle with various patterns of power and control issues, being passive aggressive, people pleasing and being co-dependent. From these we shy away from boundaries or they are blurred at best.

However Christ has a better way!

“Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone.”
Colossians 4:5-6

Notice the emphasis of wisdom by being gracious and attractive in our conversation.

Having boundaries will empower us to do this effectively with the people in our lives. Here are a couple of ways we can practice this daily.

First, Agree to disagree. It’s important that we come to this level of understanding. Our focus can be on the highest point of unity. What we agree on can unite us! Our goal should be to love them not change them in an exclusive way. This empowers us to be wise and gracious as Christ asks us to be!

Second, Respect verses Reject. We should respect others because we desire to be respected. We should aim to give to others what we want. By doing this we initiate conversation into a forum that solicits honesty and mutual respect. This is how we can be attractive to those in our life.

Our aim is to recklessly love people because Jesus recklessly loves us. God is Love period. From this truth our role is to have boundaries which create beauty! When we are healthier we will be stronger in walking this out with family, friends and beyond.

Are you willing to begin the process of boundaries in your life?

Go for it! Receive your voice and love yourself and others enough to practice this as a part of your life!

Have a great week and the best is yet to come!