This is part of a series of ideas I want to share from my own experience. I’m a girlfriend who wants to share so that you, my friends, might learn from me rather than deal with the heartache yourself.
This topic is so tender on my heart that I am almost tempted to scratch the whole post. But, here it goes anyway…
I expect too much from my friends.
There I said it.
I pour out my heart to those I love. Words of encouragement, prayer, support, advice, etc. It is my love language and I enjoy it immensely. I love to see the smile on their face. The relief when they know they are not alone. Like I said, its my love language.
Because this is how I express my love, I feel loved when the same is done for me. The trouble is I expect, rather, I appreciate or long for my friends to return that expression of love in kind. When they don’t, my heart hurts.
This is selfish of me.
I get that.
I’m working through it…
Through this soul searching {which is ongoing} the Lord keeps yelling out to me:
Get over yourself! I AM enough. I AM your friend. I AM your LORD. I AM and that is all you need.
Ok, Lord. I get it…sort of.
As I am working through this, my first thought was to completely give it up. No more Mr. Nice Guy {or gal}. I’m not going to put myself out there only to be hurt again. But yet, what kind of opportunity would I be missing to be used by God to encourage a friend who truly needs to hear something uplifting?
So as I continue to be there for my girlfriends, I’ve decided not to expect from them what only God can give me.
My El Shaddai
HE is MORE than enough.
Ephesians 3:19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
This is raw, people. Again. I’m seconds away from NOT hitting publish on this post. Yet, I want to encourage you to let God be your I AM. Let Him be your friend. What ever overflows from that blessing, pour it out on your earthly friends. Be used by Him to nurture those that you love.
The End.
{I’m closing this post to comments. I know there are a few of my girlfriends out there who would bless me with encouragement on this particular topic. That was not the reason for writing this. :) }