Relationships: A Mess Worth Making

by Timothy S. Lane

Your best relationship—no matter who it’s with—is messy! Stop and think about your most satisfying relationship. (If you are having difficulty, we have proven our point.) Ask yourself these simple questions about this relationship:  Have you ever felt misunderstood?  Have you ever been hurt by what the other person said?  Have you ever felt like you haven’t been heard?  Have you ever been betrayed?  Have you ever had to work through a misunderstanding?  Have you ever disagreed on a decision?  Have you or the other person ever held a grudge?  Have you ever experienced loneliness even when things were going well?  Have you ever been let down?  Have you ever doubted the other person’s love?  Has the other person ever doubted your commitment?  Have you ever struggled to resolve a conflict?  Have you ever wished you didn’t have to give or serve?  Have you ever felt used?  Have you ever thought, If I had only known!