Reflections 1/26/2020: I’ve been mulling over the difference between forgiveness and boundary setting. I know boundaries are necessary, given the toxicity of some people in our lives, but when I set them and then enforce them, it makes me wonder if I have completed the forgiveness process. Is that You, Jesus, nudging my heart to forgive further? Or is it me just feeling guilty for having to take a strong stand for self-protection? Hmmm… at those times we need to talk Lord. Honestly. Like this charming tomcat, some people really do operate out of selfish motives that bulldoze our best interests. I want to be kind but firm with them that they no longer have free run in my life. I will make the call IF or HOW MUCH space I give them. Hopefully kindly. But definitely firmly. Love looks different than we often think it does in these confusing relationships. Is rehearsing the old hurts a sign of uncompleted forgiveness? Or is it a pep talk to patrol the  boundaries I have legitimately set? Maybe the amount of emotion it triggers is my best discerning measure. Anger? Forgiveness to be done. Quiet resolve in the face of the facts? Probably good boundary protection. I guess if we had easy answers to all these dilemmas we wouldn’t need Your indwelling Spirit to guide us! Or Your Word to help us discern what love really looks like in any given situation! I am thankful for both!