LOVE: LOVES BOUNDARIES PT I

Happy Monday!

OK – so Monday is just about over

However, that is all the more reason to celebrate –

Those things you might have been worried about yesterday, or thought you could not face today ... they did not conquer you – you are still standing!

SO – yesterday I talked about how LOVE SELFLESSLY PROVIDES

Through that post we understand that this does not mean that one does not desire things for self. Instead, there are times when LOVE overrides those individual desires – in exchange for what is best for all

HOWEVER – I would like provide some additional context for our chat yesterday.

Unfortunately, as a human race, we can be extremists – in the worst way

This is why it is important to follow-up with today’s message so that we understand;

WHILE LOVE SELFLESSLY PROVIDES – TRUE LOVE ALSO LOVES BOUNDARIES

YESTERDAY – I talked about the selfless giving of my middle son.

However, that giving [particularly this past weekend] came with some much needed counsel

The giving was supplemented with much needed words of wisdom;

There were pointers given, to caution against being a doormat for others, to be better positioned for the future

Why? Because love is eternal – and being eternal, it cannot merely concern itself with today

There is an old saying,

‘Give a man a fish, you feed him for a day;

     Teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime’

This is what boundaries do for us –  

They provide a framework today for success tomorrow;

Establishing solid and meaningful boundaries is an investment which yields tremendous dividends

My youngest son has been sharing in this process of love with boundaries

However – his is from a health standpoint. My eldest son has done the same in the past.

They are my accountability partners

And – with the recent passing of my cousin and health concerns with my mom, my youngest has become very intentional about helping me manage my health. He is demonstrating his love by enacting boundaries and helping me to establish my own. He checks to make sure I have taken my medication; he will not share foods with me that he feels will compromise my well-being; and he has formulated parts of a fitness regime and follows-up to ensure I am following it daily.

Why? Because LOVE LOVES BOUNDARIES

Love, true love recognizes the benefit of discipline

Yet, even that is not sufficient

That love – the love which loves boundaries – must be received and embraced

My middle son made an observation a couple of weeks ago;

He said, ‘It must be very difficult as a parent when you encounter situations where your children know better than you do.’ I responded that it is humbling. However, it the most blessed feeling to have one’s children surpass them in knowledge or wisdom.

Psalm 127:4 notes that ‘Children are a blessing from the LORD … Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth.’

That is such a powerful image!

And isn’t that what every parent desires? For their children to aim higher and go farther.

NEVER LET PRIDE KEEP YOU FROM EMBRACING A LOVE WHICH LOVES AND ESTABLISHES BOUNDARIES - EVEN IF IT IS FROM YOUR OWN CHILDREN

Tomorrow, we will delve deeper into the benefits of boundaries and discipline in 

LOVE: LOVES BOUNDARIES PT II

Then, we will spend a few days talking about BROTHERLY/PHILEO LOVE

And, we will round it all out by moving into EROS LOVE –

We will stay there into next week and through Valentine’s Day

I am truly loving this LOVE JOURNEY

I hope you are as well

Praying You Have a Blessed Evening!

Wishing You Much Love …

‘Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence’ Proverbs 15:32