Guard Rails

15 July, 2021

Whatever you are willing to put up with is exactly what you will have.

A boundary is a line which marks the limits of an area. Boundaries can also be guidelines, rules or limits that a person creates to identify for themselves what are reasonable, safe and permissible ways for other people to behave around them. Boundaries must be set in relationships and indeed in every area of our lives. Don’t ask the question: ‘How close can I get to the fire without burning?’ Instead, we should be asking, ‘How do I stay as far away from the fire as I can?’

The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say ‘No’ to almost everything (Warren Buffet).

Children especially need boundaries to flourish in life. Without boundaries and discipline, children are subjected to a life of heartache: the support structure required for them to thrive is missing. If you don’t set boundaries for your children because you’re afraid they won’t like you for enforcing discipline or you’re afraid of confrontation, then you’re setting them up for a life of pain and regret. The stress of enduring a tantrum now and enforcing boundaries is nothing compared to the shame and pain of regret they (and you) will have to face when they become adults and they’re stopped by the police for not keeping to the safe boundaries of speed limits, evicted by a landlord because they’re in arrears or contacted by the bank for defaulting on a loan due to not keeping to their spending limits. Throwing a tantrum at that point in their lives won’t get them off the hook! Enforce the boundaries and discipline now, please think of their future and maybe yours too!

Lack of boundaries invites lack of respect (Anonymous)

God’s rules are his boundaries for life, given out of his love for us. His boundaries are not designed to restrict our freedom but rather to give us freedom. Like the rules of football, they do not stop the enjoyment of the game. Rather, they enable the game of life to be enjoyed to the full and to minimise the chaos and mayhem that comes with a life without boundaries.

The ten commandments were given not to restrict our freedom but rather to safeguard it.

God loves you. He does not want you to get hurt and mess up your life and the lives of other people. That is why he gives you his instruction manual (the Bible) and warns of the dangers of living outside of his loving boundaries. God’s boundaries are intended to bring blessing.

 

Author: Yomi is a wordsmith, passionate about books, reading, education, healing and health. She has appeared several times on television and radio; speaking about her passion. She has Master’s degree in Medical Immunology from the College of Medicine, University of London and worked at a postgraduate college of medicine in London for over a decade before pursuing her passion for writing. She is the author of four books.

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