limitations

this past year has been a year of me learning my limitations. it's been painful and very hard.

here's what i've learned about them:

• they smack me like a brick wall when i run up against them
• they are good
• they are foreign to how i want to live
• they are in a constant war with my desire to please people
• they are in a constant war with my desire to help and encourage people

not living within limitations: 

• is delusional
• never ends well
• gets us quickly into serious trouble
• is denial that we're human and not God
• prevents us from doing what we're called to do 
• is rooted in pride

living within limitations looks like this:

• it's really really hard
• it is not giving someone something you have but they have no right to
• it is not giving someone something you have but they have not earned the right to
• giving someone your time and energy within a reasonable construct
• not giving in to the feeling of failure when you can't help someone
• having the energy and tools to do what you're called to do
• protecting your ability to fulfill your responsibilities 
• people won't understand your limitations and will likely misinterpret your inability to help them