pricklebutt(dot)com

Are probably the greatest source of joy, sorrow, laughter, pain, comfort and frustration that we will ever have. So I am always hesitant when I feel a wind of change in my relationships. Even though I am generally open to change, I balk a bit when I feel a change in my relationships. Everybody needs their peeps and there is such an incredible amount of time, effort and emotion put into most relationships that we often hold these closest to our hearts and are most resistant to change in this area. It's interesting that I/we react this way to change in our relationships, because growth (whether together or apart) is as inevitable as the sunset. I say this because as I reflect on the past 8 to 10 months I feel that some of my relationships are growing apart and I'm not sure what to do about it.

I recently was venting to a close friend of mine, that I am dissatisfied with being unequally yoked in some of my relationships. I notice a pattern that with some people, I will constantly go out of my way or be "inconvenienced" if you will, to ensure that I am supporting, building up and growing that relationship. However, in some cases this effort or willingness to be inconvenienced is not returned. What do you do with that? Even someone with the lowest of self esteems will begin to struggle with that after time. Worse off is when it is with people who you "need" to have a close relationship with, such as family and life long friends.

The struggle is always with to what extent am I responsible to carry these relationships? How much grace do I extend to those people. Maybe the answer is that I carry it as long as I am able. Maybe the answer is to let it go and then pick it up after 6 months to try again? I don't know, but we will see.