I was such a trustworthy person. I used to trust first and hurt later because I did not allow time to show me where to place people in my life. I was always passing out front row tickets and VIP backstage passes for all to have an exclusive role in my life. I always thought of myself as a GREAT judge of character, and still believe that I am, but when people would show me who they REALLY were, I tended to give them the benefit of the doubt instead of taking that as their truth. Not anymore, over the last 2 years I began taking inventory of my relationships. If I noticed this person was always causing drama, not valuing our friendship/the things I did for them or was just plain NEGATIVE, I began loving them from the balcony and not the front row. Some people even had their tickets refunded at the door.
My life is much too precious and those that are in my life for the long haul deserve more of my time. Some of these relationships were draining and the jealousy and negativity had such an impact on my life that I decided it was time to make changes. Here is something I found on the internet a while back and is the source of my TOTD today.
"Life is like a theater, so invite your audiences carefully. Not everyone is holy enough and healthy enough to have a FRONT ROW seat in our lives. There are some people in your life that need to be loved from a distance.
It’s amazing what you can accomplish when you let go, or at least minimize your time with draining, negative, incompatible, not-going-anywhere relationships, friendships, fellowships, and even family!!!
Observe the relationships around you. Pay attention to: Which ones lift and which ones lean? Which ones give and take and which ones only take, take? Which ones encourage and which ones discourage? Which ones are on a path of growth uphill and which ones are just going downhill or just standing still???
When you leave certain people, do you feel better or feel worse?
Which ones always have drama or don’t really understand, know, and appreciate you and the gift that lies within you? The more you seek God and the things of God, the more you seek quality, the more you seek not just the hand of God but the face of God, the more you seek things that are honorable, the more you seek growth, peace of mind, love and truth around you, the easier it will become for you to decide who gets to sit in the FRONT ROW and who should be moved to the BALCONY of your life.
You cannot change the people around you…but you can change the people you are around! Ask God for wisdom and discernment and choose wisely the people who sit in the FRONT ROW of your life. Remember that FRONT ROW seats are for special and deserving people and those who sit in Your FRONT ROW should be chosen carefully.
Everyone does not deserve a front row seat in your life. Sometimes you will find that your front row seats are empty, but that does not mean that you don't have any friends or wonderful relationships, it just means that those special seats are reserved for special people."
Author Unknown
~ Love You!
