What is the one crucial thing you must do to enjoy your relationships?

Life happens, one of my friends said during a conversation we had. We were chatting about how people we grew up with and thought we would be BFFs ( best friends forever) are no longer in our lives. Some of these friendships were meant to last a long time, but like my friend reminded me during our phone conversation, “life happens,” and people move on with their lives, and you know some are no longer on this earth. So, you see, we need to understand that people come into your life for seasons, and when their time expires, they leave. The problem we have is that we don’t understand the seasons, and we tend to hold on to “expired” friendships, “expired” relationships, and “expired” time.

Growth is an essential factor in our relationships. However, this aspect of life can sometimes be neglected and pushed aside because we cannot seem to relate effectively with people, so growing becomes a difficult thing to achieve. So how can you grow and enjoy your relationships with people?

One way you can grow and enjoy your relationships is to 

Know who you are

When you know and understand who you are, it can help you enjoy your relationships with first yourself and second other people. “Your relationship with yourself sets a tone for every other relationship you have.” 

Growing up, I didn’t quite understand this aspect of love. It wasn’t until I began to seek God for myself that God started working in me. I remember when I used to look at myself in the mirror and didn’t like what I saw. I didn’t think I was worthy of anything deserving. 

All I saw then was how I couldn’t meet up. I had so many excuses for why my life wasn’t going to be perfect and how I thought God had robbed me of all the good things that my friends were fortunate to have. 

I didn’t know that I was made perfect in God’s eyes in my imperfection.

One of the best commandments God gave to us is to love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Think about it. You have to love your friends like yourself. So, you treat people the way you treat yourself, or rather you “love” people the way you love yourself. So, if you do not love yourself, how can you love others? How can you grow in your relationship with people if you don’t know who you are? 

These are some practical ways you can begin to love yourself.

Be Patient with Yourself

Be patient with yourself. Don’t be quick to write yourself off when you make a mistake. Instead, realize that you are human, and for that, you are deserving. 

Be Kind to yourself

Learn to appreciate yourself. You don’t have to wait for someone else to recognize you before you can tell yourself some kind words. Always say to yourself, “I am beautiful,” I am kind,” I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I am cherished. I am loved, and I deserve love. 

Love is never envious nor boils with jealousy.

Guard your heart in all diligence. When you begin to see yourself the way God sees you, it is challenging to find yourself envious and jealous of someone else. But, on the other hand, when you are satisfied with God’s love, it gives you the privilege to love and love yourself better. 

Recognize that you are God made you beautiful and wonderful. Also, acknowledge that you are not perfect and embrace all your imperfections as God’s gift to you.

Love always protects, always trusts, and always hope perseveres.

Trust who you are and who God created you to be. Be confident in who you are in Christ. Be convinced that you are enough.

And lastly, give it time.

Give it time to grow to love yourself.

You have to learn to love yourself. Just like Whitney Houston says, “learning to love yourself is the greatest love of All” is something that has to grow. Something you have to learn.

“Whatever we appreciate, the value appreciates.”

See yourself the way Jesus sees you. 

He said, “You are Chosen, not forsaken.”

Even if your mother and father reject you, God will never forsake you. Psalm 27:10

In the end, Love Never Fails.