He set forth perimeters,
guidelines, and instructions. Boundaries, if you will.
If you are anything like
me, you also struggle with boundaries. Understanding or knowing how to set a boundary can be confusing, especially if you have never had it role-modeled as a child. Without personal boundaries, I allowed others to step over me, step
on me, and talk over me.
Let's explore boundaries a bit more this week.
Beginning with the question, what is a boundary? A simple definition of a boundary, according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
Something that indicates or fixes a limit or extent.
Those two trees mark the boundary of our property.
The
mountain range that forms the country's northern boundary synonyms bound,
ceiling, limit, end, cap, line, extent, limitation, termination
Staying in your
own lane prevents confusion, chaos, and control. Boundaries define us. They
define what is me and what is not me.
A boundary shows me where I end and
someone else begins, leading me to a sense of ownership. —Drs. Cloud and
Townsend.
Even Yeshua practiced healthy self-care
Did you know that Yeshua set boundaries to protect
from burnout? So, if He needed to slip away for some "Me time," how much more do
we need to slip away for quiet time with the Father, with ourselves?
Busyness
can be a difficult hurdle to overcome! People press us for many reasons; busy
moms have difficulty carving out precious quiet moments to care for their own needs. He gets that. He had to say no to those clambering for His time and
energy. He set an example.
Matthew 14:22 And at once, he compelled his disciples to embark on the ship and to go before him to the other side while he sent the crowds away. 23And when he had sent the crowds away, he went up to a mountain alone to pray and when it was dark he was there alone.
Sometimes the answer is no; sometimes it is wait, and
sometimes yes to you and no to me. It takes wisdom and practice to set healthy
boundaries.
Let's look further into this topic, and I will share links for you
to explore this vital topic further.
