Aside from learning how to balance the married life and an awesome new job....I learned a very powerful and life changing lesson! I learned that not everybody in your life is your cheerleader. I learned that who I associate with matters. I learned that loving yourself sometimes means loving certain people from a distance.
"He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will suffer harm."
Proverbs 13:20
If you associate with negative people, you too will be negative. If you associate with hot heads, you too will be a hot head. If you associate with gossipers, you will gossip. If you associate with "haters", you will be a "hater".
Towards the end of 2014, I was preparing for marriage. During that preparation, I made a promise to myself that I would love my husband and my marriage enough to no longer surround myself around those who's "love" was confusing or painful. I didn't want to bring that rejection or hate from others into my new marriage or my new home. I wanted to surround myself and my marriage around people who truly loved and supported us and those who inspired and encouraged us! This was a painful thing to do and experience but the rewards have been amazing!
God has honored the decision of putting my husband and marriage first and wanting only healthy relationships in our lives! It is BIBLICAL to be mindful of our associations and to also FLEE from things or people that might help us stumble!
"Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn AWAY from them." Romans 16:17.
It isn't selfish to want better for your life. It is WISE to be selective and to know who should be loved from a distance. Thank you God for all you have done for my husband and me! I will take these painful lessons and continue to grow in YOUR goodness and to focus on the relationships YOU want in my life!!!
I encourage anybody who is struggling with letting people go that hurt you, reject you, disrespect you, or people who say they love you but act as if they hate you to cling to what is good and cling to GOD! Letting go of people you love is hard but once you are free, you are FREE. NOTHING is wrong with loving hurtful people from a distance! Let 2016 be the year that you associate with positive, God fearing, loving, and kind people! Let 2016 be the year you are set free from painful or destructive relationships and cling to God! He is the One who can set you free and show you REAL love!
Happy New Year readers! May this be the year that all of your dreams come true!!
