My #1 Principle for Reconciliation

Just a short and sweet note tonight. I had multiple thoughts battling it out in my mind this evening. This is the one I wanted to jot down. My #1 principle for reconciliation:

1. Reconciliation cannot be at the expense of other relationships in your life. If being reconciled to someone will take time, energy and affection away from other people in your support system and cause additional cut-offs in other relationships, it's just not time for reconciliation yet.

One person is unable to complete the process of reconciliation. Being able to restore a relationship really reflects on the relational health of the support system of both parties involved. I don't believe in forcing reconciliation. I also don't believe in excusing relational cut-offs, especially in family. However, when an individual is blessed with a reconciliation of a relationship, the entire family is blessed, enlarged, and grows. A forced reconciliation will just re-establish the wounds that are present and the reasons for the cut-off.

That said - as a third party to a relational cut-off you will know you are ready for reconciliation when you are able to hear both sides of a story and believe both sides to be true. Its a challenge, no doubt about it. The blessings of a restored relationship, make it worth going through all the work.