Step Eight An Accurate View Of Our Relationships
An important part of recovery is coming to an accurate view of what went wrong in our relationships. Regardless of the excuses we may make for our behaviour, we need to admit that at times we caused harm to others. We need to understand the underlying causes of our actions. We need to take responsibility for our part in the breakdown of relationships. As we go forward, we need to learn how to behave differently in order to begin to build healthy interactions and caring relationships.
Speaking in anger or using silence or distance has the impact of wounding others. While outright cheating and stealing may not be part of our life now, it’s still too easy for us to lie and deceive and manipulate things for our own advantage. Have we learned to let complaining and blaming go or are we still using them to excuse our poor attitude?
Do to others as you would like them to do to you. Continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. (Luke 6:31, 1 Peter 4:8 NLT)
Forgiving those who have harmed us and releasing them, and their actions, into God’s care is an important part of rebuilding relationships. Forgiveness turns our attention to God and away from the person who harmed us. Forgiveness establishes God as the source of our healing and restoration knowing that He will work all things together for our good.
We should undertake to put the following principles in place as we go forward in building caring and healthy relationships: Admit our part in any action which caused harm to another and receive forgiveness and healing from God; Live respectfully with others; Forgive those who have offended us; Where necessary, make amends to others for our part in any event or situation that caused harm.
Gracious God, You created me to live in loving relationship with You and with others. Help me to do what is within my power to restore my broken relationships and to build strong and caring relationships in the future. Amen
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