The hardest part about helping someone is enduring their rage and resentment when you stop bailing them out. It’s at that point you wonder if you made the right decision earlier when you started helping them. In our case it’s been years.
I heard this gem from a Christian who told his employees, “You never get fired from this place, you simply behave your way in or behave your way out.” Before the person loses their job they are asked, “which direction is this behavior moving you in?”
I think Annabelle and my mistake was forgiving behavior without attaching meaningful consequences. Grace is not enough. You need grace and truth. Love isn’t sufficient, you need love and wisdom.
Nevertheless it’s painful to watch people you love turn on you while they hit rock bottom. The urge is to intervene.
Make sense?