Sunday, May 1, 2022

A Mother's Lessons

 

By Danielle Cote Serar

Boundaries

Some of you may remember me sharing at the beginning of the year that my words for 2022 were Take Back. As a part of that, I’ve been attending a weekly women’s Bible study. As we finish up this semester, we started a four-week series called Guardrails. It’s always fascinating how God weaves things into our lives when we need them.


The concept of boundaries isn’t something new for me. In fact, I’ve counseled people on maintaining healthy relationships with those they love that are toxic in their lives, even if it means loving them from a distance. But it took an interesting set of circumstances to realize that some of my most needed boundaries had been eradicated. And when this series started, it was a wake-up call that I had once again begun to let my boundaries deteriorate.


In my business life I was taught a very valuable lesson. “You can’t give from an empty cup.” meaning simply that if you are not in a healthy right place (be it mentally, physically, financially, etc.) if you are running on fumes, you really don’t have anything to give to others. For myself, I have found boundaries to be this regulator of helping to maintain my own cup, so to speak.


I have found when I move beyond these healthy regulators that I’m drained… be it poor financial choices, binging on the foods I know don’t serve me well, or trying to operate and successfully function in a toxic relationship. When I’m putting into those areas, I’m not only robbing myself, draining myself, but I’m putting myself in a position where I won’t be able to do for others.


I needed this reminder. I was allowing myself back on a slippery slope. And just when I needed the gentle nudge, I got one.


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