*This post begins our “Sharing the Spotlight!” series with guest writers during November, which I always deem a month of thankfulness and sharing. This post is unedited and comes from the heart of Sister Audrey. So, enjoy as your read her reflections on healthy relationships. Thank you so much, Sister Audrey, for sharing with us.

It is a great honor to me for my dear Sister Jackie to allow me this opportunity to share some of my thoughts, from my heart, as a guest writer, on her wonderful blog, “Healing From Broken Pieces.” I have truly enjoyed reading all of her blog posts and have gleaned much knowledge, enlightenment and encouragement from them. So, the subject today that I have chosen to share some of my thoughts is “Healthy Relationships – Priceless.” Because “healthy” relationships are truly priceless. 

During these past two years many have come to see all of their different types of relationships with others in a new light. For one of the most valuable things that we can have in life is healthy relationships with others whether it be family, friend, neighbor, co-worker or an acquaintance (please note: All those that we call family are not always “blood” relatives, but possibly they are “bond” relatives). I sincerely believe that most everyone needs someone, at some time, whether it be from a close personal relationship or just a casual acquaintance.

 Yet, regardless the type relationship, one always wants to interact with those that they have a favorable healthy relationship with, whether it be a family member or just a circumstantial encounter. We may have truthfully looked at our past relationships that have been damaged, or we’ve even completely lost them, possibly because of misunderstandings or even negligence, and in hind-sight, we may see and acknowledge the mistakes that were made in them. We may have even looked at those relationships that we felt slipped away from us without notice, and we sincerely don’t understand why it happened that way, for we genuinely desired to keep them.  

Then there were those relationships that were simply un-healthy for our emotional, spiritual, financial, intellectual, and/or physical well-being…. but with our Lord God’s help, we perceived that they weren’t not good for us, and we were able to let them go and move on. One thing for sure is that we all need healthy relationships in every area of our lives. And if we could understand, early in life, the essential significance that it will have on our lives, then perhaps we would begin all new relationships with a strategy to define them as healthy or un-healthy, verses whether we just desire them, just because we want them. 

But, as some know, that is not how that process usually works. For it is an experience-based process of learning about all of the intricacies of how to effectively process and relate to others. If we first remember that the first part of relationships, is “relation”, which simply is defined as how one identifies or is connected to another, then we can begin each new relationship by defining, what is the “connection”, the foundation of the relationship.

For me, I learned that it all begins with my relationship with God, then with myself, then with others. And the more that I strive to get that order right, the more I am able to discern whether a relationship is healthy for me and how I should process and interact with it. Order is important, both in the natural and in the spiritual matters of our lives. All relationships are not about being “in love” with someone, or personal interactions, but all relationships require a genuine understanding of how they should be perceived, their true foundations. But for those close relationships, maybe consider this, if there is the quality of respect on both sides of the relationship. 

 Personally, I have learned that it can be a good measure to determine whether the relationship should be considered a “healthy” one. “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.” – Proverbs 17:17; and “If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.” – Ecclesiastes 4:10. For in this type of relationship, one that is truly a healthy relationship, one can truly call it “priceless. Never just being in an unhealthy relationship with the false sense of out-of-necessity, nor for fear of being alone. Because, “You” Matter!

Praying that we all are better able to process all of our relationships with others, with discernment through wisdom, and have the fortitude to move on and discern whether they be healthy or unhealthy, especially when it’s a relationship that we so sincerely desire. 

Thank you again my dear Sister Jackie for this opportunity that I have not only enjoyed in the sharing of my heart with your readers, but that I truly have not taken this opportunity for granted, and sincerely consider “our” relationship to be healthy and priceless! Be blessed the more!!! – Sis Audrey