In Others’ Words: Education

Not all of my friendships have lasted.

That’s not surprising, I know.

It’s rare for a friendship to span elementary school through high school on into college and everything beyond: a career, a marriage (or not), kiddos (or not) life choices that draw us further apart than a geographical move ever could.

But there are times when I have closed the door on a friendship. I’ve never slammed a door in a friend’s face, but there have been times — just a few — when I packed up and moved away emotionally. When I left no forwarding address. When I didn’t return calls — and when I didn’t pick up the phone to be the first one to call either.

Why would I pursue the end of a friendship?

So many reasons.

Emotional and spiritual exhaustion. I could only carry around “should have saids” in an attempt to “live at peace” with a friend for so long

I was worn out from all the trying … all the maintaining the relationship required. After all, is friendship about maintaining?

I taught these people it was okay to treat me certain ways. I hadn’t spoken up. I hadn’t expressed hurt … or disappointment … or an honest opinion in years.

And friendship begins and ends with honesty — that whole “What, you too?!” emotional honesty that anchors hearts from here to eternity.

In Your Words: How have you taught people to treat you? 

Are all friendships anchored to the heart from here to eternity? Click to Tweet

How have you taught people to treat you? Click to Tweet

Read the first chapters of Catch a Falling Star and Wish You Were Here! Click to Tweet