Relationships Part 1 | Life at Spring Meadows

I have a mix of friends from every walk of life. I appreciate what I learn from each one. Sometimes I discover what “to do” and other times, it is what “not to do!”

Some people are in our life because of a conscious decision we made to connect. Then, there are those we are connected with because of family ties, career, or through community activities such as sports or church. Our choice is in the depth of the relationship and how vulnerable we allow ourselves to be with other people.

Through articles and Facebook posts, it is easy to see that we all have our perception of what it means to be the perfect friend. Graphic illustrations and quotes about friendship flood the timelines of Facebook on a daily basis. Here are a few of the quotes I often see and most likely are familiar to you.

• “True friendship is not about being there when it is convenient; it’s about being there when it’s not.”
• “Fake friends are like shadows. They follow you in the sun but leave you in the dark.”
• “Friends uplift the soul.”

And the list goes on, and the story it tells is that people want to have friends; we need people in our lives. Relationships are important.

TYPES OF RELATIONSHIPS

Some relationships are comfortable and enjoyable, while others are trying and challenging.

When faced with difficult relationships, I try to keep in mind that God puts people in our path for us to either be a source of help for them or He uses them to knock a few edges off of us. Often, the relationship serves both purposes.

(More on types of relationships in Part 2 of this series. Make sure you are Subscribed to receive notification of new articles in this series.)

STRIFE, CONFLICT, AND DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOR

There are those who firmly believe we should not keep those in our life that cause strife or conflict. But don’t we all, at some point in our life, struggle with our emotions and find ourselves in the middle of adversity? I am thankful for the people who didn’t walk away when I was struggling; by staying, they showed me I was worth the challenge and helped me be an overcomer. And the ones I did not walk away from when they were struggling, are now some of my most cherished friendships.

Undercover Boss is one of my favorite shows. I enjoy the element of surprise when the employees realize the person they thought was just another co-worker turns out to be their boss.

One episode that I could watch time and again is from January 16, 2015. The CEO of EmpireCLS Worldwide Chauffeured Services is undercover. As the scene unfolds, there is no doubt that a couple of the employees will be saying goodbye to their job. Questionable customer service and inappropriate conversations with clients are grounds for dismissal.

Fortunately, David Seelinger, the CEO, looked beyond the actions of his employees to discover the root of their personal problems. He was more concerned about the person than the action. Mr. Seelinger could have easily ended his work relationship with two of his employees, but instead made a decision to offer help and find a solution. He wept with his employees as he embraced them. He decided they were worth the investment of time, love, and patience because someone did the same for him in his past.

Be smart and wise. Know when to go and when to stay. There are those you may need to love from a distance for your own sake.

DON’T SHUT THE DOOR

Guard your heart, but don’t close the door. Leave it open enough to discover what God is doing either in your life or the life of someone He has placed in your path.

When we shut the door of our heart to protect ourselves from hurt, we also close the door on what could be some of our most rewarding and beautiful experiences. For the few negatives that I have experienced, I have countless relationships that have made this journey of life incredible.

I choose to keep the door of my heart wide open! (More on this in Part 3 of this series. Get ready!)

INTERACTION: BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS

Look at every opportunity to get to know someone, learn from them, and grow with them or grow because of them.

Spend time with people who are encouragers and love you for who you are on your worst of days.

Make sure you have a friend with whom you can laugh at the silly things in life and cry together during the sad times.

Have a friend with whom you can share your thoughts and know it will be okay if what you are feeling is not “correct,” but loves you enough to listen and gently guide you in the right direction.

Discover people who enjoy some of the same things you do, such as hobbies, finding a unique restaurant in an out-of-the-way place for lunch, cheering for the same sports team, or reading and discussing good books.

Sometimes we don’t need words of wisdom, just arms of compassion. Have a friend that knows how to give a hug.

RELATIONSHIPS: WORTH THE RISK

What would life be if we chose to be a hermit, someone without people to interact with and share our journey? I want to take a risk, enjoy the relationships, and learn how to grow from the people in my life, both negative and positive.

People and relationships are worth the risk!

Do you have a challenging relationship? I am sure we all do. In Relationships Part 2: Relationships that Challenge, we will discover types of relationships in our lives and how we grow from each one. Be sure to Subscribe and receive notifications of new articles in this series.

Friends, those who are genuine, are treasures! Be one and find one; cherish those you have.

You might also like Lessons From My Dog. Check it out!