Overstepping Boundaries
Yesterday, I had lunch with a few ladies I used to work with and we had a great time together. What I like most about this group of women is that they all come from varying backgrounds and educations; yet they all have maturity, wisdom, and common sense to share with others in their own special ways.
One woman in particular has taught me a variety of life lessons over the ten plus years I've known her. She carries herself well, with a quiet sense of strength and positive energy. One day when we were talking, I mentioned being concerned about entertaining others when they were in my home or I was in their homes, and she said something like, "I always consider that they are adults and can make their own choices about what they want to eat or what they'd like to do."
This idea of letting others "entertain themselves" was a revelation to me. Here all this time, I felt responsible for the fun, or lack there of, that others experienced in my home or in my company. She put a pin in that balloon and popped it!
What a relief that idea was to me! I know it seems like a given to let others be responsible for their own entertainment and comfort, but for some strange reason, I had twisted that idea around and felt responsible for the needs of others. Now does that mean I totally ignore others' needs? Of course not, but God knows their needs and desires much better than I ever could.
I've decided I need to pray over events in my home or those I go to and ask God how He would like me to serve others. I also need to ask God to keep me from overstepping my boundaries, and getting in the way of what He's trying to work out in their lives.
Everyone needs a Savior, but I don't happen to be it!
One woman in particular has taught me a variety of life lessons over the ten plus years I've known her. She carries herself well, with a quiet sense of strength and positive energy. One day when we were talking, I mentioned being concerned about entertaining others when they were in my home or I was in their homes, and she said something like, "I always consider that they are adults and can make their own choices about what they want to eat or what they'd like to do."
This idea of letting others "entertain themselves" was a revelation to me. Here all this time, I felt responsible for the fun, or lack there of, that others experienced in my home or in my company. She put a pin in that balloon and popped it!
What a relief that idea was to me! I know it seems like a given to let others be responsible for their own entertainment and comfort, but for some strange reason, I had twisted that idea around and felt responsible for the needs of others. Now does that mean I totally ignore others' needs? Of course not, but God knows their needs and desires much better than I ever could.
I've decided I need to pray over events in my home or those I go to and ask God how He would like me to serve others. I also need to ask God to keep me from overstepping my boundaries, and getting in the way of what He's trying to work out in their lives.
Everyone needs a Savior, but I don't happen to be it!
Proverbs 13:20 Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.
Thank God for that woman's wise words! You know I suffer from this too and what a weight that has been lifted. Also, I feel like I need to entertain others when I go to someone's place. Fifty present of the time, it's God allowing me to help sad people laugh. But then the other half is people pleasing. Thanks for sharing this.
ReplyDeleteWise woman.
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