I recently gave this advice to someone who was concerned that they may have to give up something if they committed to a serious relationship. Part of my advice was of course you will have to give up something. You will have to give part of yourself. I tried to let them know that this is not a bad thing and that giving up yourself to someone you love is a good thing. It is what Jesus did for us. I know that this could be taken too far, but it seems that there is more danger in not taking it far enough. Anyway, This small bit was given in response to the concern that someone may have to give up a dream to which the point was made, "perhaps but only if they are not the same dreams.
If you are up front with yourself and with your partner things will be easier when the time comes to decide whether or not to continue. Talk about your dreams when the time comes. Don't rush anything, but don't neglect the important conversations either. If you are honest with yourself and with them you will be saving a lot of heartache."
My final response was that you have to protect your heart. Be rubber, not glass. Bounce, don't break.
If you are up front with yourself and with your partner things will be easier when the time comes to decide whether or not to continue. Talk about your dreams when the time comes. Don't rush anything, but don't neglect the important conversations either. If you are honest with yourself and with them you will be saving a lot of heartache."
My final response was that you have to protect your heart. Be rubber, not glass. Bounce, don't break.
Tough questions, any suggestions?
2 comments:
How about a couple more questions?
What in the world does it mean to be "rubber and not glass"?
And how do you protect your heart in a relationship?
I'll take your answers off the air.
I put this question here because I do not know exactly how to respond to someone seeking advice about how to navigate pre-relationship waters.
I don't mean that you protect your heart in a relationship as much as I mean you protect your heart in PRE-RELATIONSHIPS.
The whole thing is about making sure that you and your partner are heading the same direction. If not there is heartache ahead.
These are really tough questions for me. Someone asks me how to handle a situation where they are "falling for someone" and I all I can come up with is be rubber not glass.
What I was trying to say was know who you are and what you stand for so that if things do not work out you will be able to bounce back rather than be broken. You can be rubber if the Lord is the primary source of contentment in your life but if your contentment is going to come from another person you will be broken like glass.
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