BOUNDARIES

I’m sorry to have missed you the last few days.  I was out of town and away form everything.  So, as long as I was away, I thought I might as well be AWAY. 

      In Matthew 16,  Jesus shows us that one way that is necessary in handling toxic relationships is to set healthy boundaries, the way he did with Peter.  Of all people, Christians seem to have the most difficulty with this.  Somehow, we think living the Christ-life means living a boundary-free life.  It means letting people teat us any way they want without reacting whatsoever.  In some strange, dysfunctional way, we think that’s what Jesus would do.  We define that as being love. 

     But, look at Jesus in this instance with Peter.  He sets some distinct and discernable boundaries. 

     In your life, that may mean you may need to tell another that you will not allow them to talk to you or treat you in a toxic manner.  Or, you may simply need to communicate to them that your relationship is heading into a toxic place, and that you’re not going to allow it to continue in that direction any longer. 

     That may be a new revelation to you, but true love doesn’t allow others to infect them or their relationship with toxicity.  That means you care enough for yourself, as well as them. 

     What types of healthy boundaries do you need to set in your relationships?

Read Matthew 16:21-28