Times of reflection are the best way to start a week.
Ask yourself this question: If you were so close to a forest fire that you could feel its heat, would you evacuate?
I was sitting in the grass with my brother and a child. We were watching a fire across the street. The fire was so intense it quickly jumped across the road and was burning right in front of us. I was alarmed and screamed at my brother that we needed to get in the car and leave — NOW. He simply sat there uninterested in the flames that blazed around us.
I paid no attention to his lack of concern and began gathering up our stuff quickly, grabbed the child and put us all in the car and sped away. Once we got to safety, we turned back to see the fire blazing through house after house.
I woke up! It had been a dream but a strong one.
My brother did not evacuate from our family but stayed close to them. Probably not close in his heart but close in proximity to them. Their abuse. Their lies. Their fake God. All of it.
The cost to him has been a tremendous one. He’s had multiple heart attacks and was left with brain damage. I always wonder if he had escaped the family when I did if he would be different today. I’m not perfect but I did leave them — eventually. Oh, I tried to stay by them but their deceptive ways, the lies, their intolerance of truth — mandated my departure.
Ask yourself this question: Are you willing to stay in the forest fire of a deceitful family?
Forgiveness does not mean you have to stay. Forgiveness should separate you from the abuser(s). Having good, strong boundaries around them most of the time they don’t want you around because you make their existence uncomfortable.
Please evacuate while you can. There will be a day when it is just too late.
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