LIFE IS A BEAUTIFUL BALANCING ACT

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   Life is a balancing act... there are just so many things to keep up with: money, schooling, relationships, weight, fertility, health problems, parents, fashion, addiction, family problems.... and a good array of other things. I want to address the family problem/relationship bit if I may.....

   
   

   As teenagers, our lives are generally built around angst! Do we have the right clothes, the right friends, does the person we like like us?  We have no concept at all that our parents were ever teenagers and therefore we are sure they have no clue what its like to be young!! We have to keep up our appearances in our peer group and keep up our grades in order to earn our weekend out time...it's a lot of pressure, and that pressure can double if, like a lot of kids these days, a teen has two homes to worry with due to divorced and remarried parents. 

   
   
   

   Families get into many struggles as the children become grown and start living their own lives, and not necessarily doing it the way the parents would have them do it. Usually this will past and things will settle down. Parents and adult children will find some stable ground on which to communicate and live in harmony.

   
   
   

   But within families and other relationships, there are often numerous problems. In relationships that are a struggle to maintain, there are breaks in trust, misconceptions, lies, lack of dependability, and tons of disrespect. And often times these things will go on for years, in unforgiveness, as bitterness and anger just keeps building up.

   
   
   

   So how do you bring all this into balance? It's really simple. 

   
   

   1.Treat everyone with LOVE.

   
   
   

   Romans 13:9 says "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself!"  

   
   
   

   So we are to show a kind heart and love to everyone. That would include being respectful and honest. That means keeping a promise, honoring your word. It means NOT gossiping about your friend, relative or loved one behind their back. Don't speak ill of anyone at all. 

   
   
   

   Speak well of them whenever you can, try to help them like you would like them to help you. Have good manners. 

   
   

   In this way, you will have peace with your friends and relatives. If they do not act the same towards you in time, you will know what to do next.

   
   
   

    2. FORGIVENESS! 

   
   

   Ephesians 4:32  Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

   
   

   Mark 11:25 And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

   
   

    1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

   
   

   Matthew 18:21-22 Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.

   
   

   Matthew 6:15 But if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. 

   
   
   

   Forgiveness frees you of having to carry the burden of this poor relationship on your soul. It removes that burden so you are forgiven by God, and free to love that person again! It lifts you above the need to bicker and fuss and gossip. It renews you and gives you clean energy to renew the relationship, if the other person is willing to submit themselves to forgiveness as well. BUT you should not revive that relationship if the other person hasn't experienced a God-change as well. If you do, you are asking for more trouble. 

   
   
   

   3.RELEASE!

   
   

   If not, you may have to let that person out of your life. Consider that it may not be God's will for you to hang on to an unforgiving person or a person who will constantly be causing turmoil in your life. God's wish is for us to live to his example, in peace and love, and not to have constant negativity and sin pushed upon us.

   
   

   1 Corinthians 5:11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one.

   
   

   Ephesians 6:13 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”

   
   
   

   2 Thessalonians 3:6 Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.

   
   

   The truth is plain. You should have NO STRUGGLE with a TRUE friend, or a relationship thats meant to be, whether they are family by blood or association. If there is a problem there, and that person is not trustworthy, then for the sake of peace among you and peace in your soul, that person is not someone you should be around on a regular basis. Perhaps later in life, one or both of you will mature enough to see that your differences were petty, or that you will be able to put them behind you later on. But until that time of reasoning, it may be best to give it a rest. 

   
   

   That is in fact, the best part, you get to decide who you keep in your life. But make the decisions based on Biblical principals, not financial gain or idolatry. It is your life and your choice how you're going to mess it up. ... don't waste your time surrounding yourself with people who don't value you and respect you in their life... Sometimes, you have to let them go; not because you suddenly stopped loving them, but because it's whats best for everyone concerned.