Broken relationships are hard to take. There is a person who at one time I considered a friend. Along the way there was a difference of opinion between the two of us. It got so bad that a few months ago, a mutual friend met with us to help us ‘hear’ each other (because we were not hearing each other at all at the point). I thought the meeting had gone well; I thought we had been able to see where the other person was coming from. We have had very little contact with each other since then. Then this past week, we talked on the phone. I was hoping that having given the situation some time to dissipate, we could begin some sort of reconciliation. That, unfortunately, will not be happening. It turns out that the meeting we had had a few months ago was not at all what I had thought it had been. I said to this person, “I thought we had been able to ‘hear’ each other.” The person’s response was that ‘no’, we had not heard each other at all. Listening to this person during our telephone conversation, I realized I am still seen as the enemy, and that this person does not believe reconciliation will ever be possible between us.<\/p>\n
This hurts! I don’t want to be the enemy! And I feel betrayed. During our meeting of a few months ago, I believed this person was being genuine in what they were saying, but now I wonder whether they were just saying what they thought I wanted to hear. I know this person is hurting and I am largely seen as the cause of that hurt. I really want this person to be healed and set free from the things that cause pain in their life. And I realize there is absolutely nothing I can do to make things right. I cannot change this person’s opinion about me. It hurts a lot.<\/p>\n
So what is my response in this situation? Do I keep trying for reconciliation? Or will that make matters worse, since I am seen as the enemy? Do I give up, ignore this broken relationship, and continue on with my life? I don’t like that option. Is it enough to believe that I have tried for my part to work towards reconciliation and if that is not received, I need to let it go and trust things into God’s hands? I don’t know. It sure sucks, though.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"