Your father
If he’s an encourager and brings out the best in you, you’re blessed. Most people are in some ways working through father issues. Some people, God bless them, have been emotionally or even physically abused by their father. Many have just been ignored. We can only turn to God and ask him to be for us what our dad could never be.
Your spouse
Or, if you’re not married, that romantic interest who breaks your heart. Love requires risk and it almost always results in great pain. Your options are to hide your heart away and never risk, or dive deep and get hurt.
Your worst boss
I’ve had a few. The one that made me pull my hair out the most was more interested in style than substance. Ultimately he asked me to leave and did me a favor in the process. Bad bosses show us what’s inside us. When we react in frustration, or are embittered, we see growth opportunities.
Your mentor
If you’re lucky enough/brave enough to have one. They usually don’t come to you – you’ve got to go looking and ask them to be intentional in pouring into you. They’ll be your cheerleader and your coach, pointing out where and how to grow. They spend time with you because they want to see you become great.
Your antagonist
I had one tell me, “I don’t hate you, Seth.” I wanted to answer, “Really? Wow, well thanks for clarifying. Your actions sure left me scratching my head.” People like that cause you to ask questions of yourself you might otherwise never ask. They give you the gift of humility. It’s up to you to receive it.
LOVE this!
Agreed Seth.
great list…still working on that first one (oh, and the second one). i appreciate your wisdom!
Thanks Seth….I identified with much of what you said. Headed to Virginia Saturday night and from there would love to connect. Shalom always….
Dear sir,
requst for help me,
after some 3year,s ago iwill marrage & start new life I am request for some people please give me a some mony so iam return for easy lees so i get some mony & invest a perchasing for some important matrial of live in life rent a house & other metrial but money is not running in my life
i am sindh goverment employ but my salery is very very low were people help me & return mony i am worried so iam leesing a bank hbl are apply in loan loan approve in my hand so i am return mony those person …………….
my account no is 104379001080501 HBL branch hyd in sindh pk
my salery is 16321/=
bank lees in 5388/=
house rent in 6000/=
balnce in 5000/=
5000 rupees not a running in my life my econmics is very low please help me i pray god to you
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This is really clarifying, Seth. Some of my experiences:
My father wasn’t particularly encouraging but he was extremely loyal in the face of many “screwups” on my part. He never gave up on me which eventually paid off, Thank God.
You know the story of my spouse. She broke my heart badly but The Lord lead me down a path that took 2 years or more to complete and during that time, He taught me how to love as He loves (or at least as best I can). I learned to “dive deep and get hurt” but also to abandon myself and trust Him.
In my early years in business, I had a really bad boss, with a company with no personnel conscience. Grace prevailed and I did the only thing I could do, I walked away (quit). The experience really helped me with future encounters.
I’ve had several mentors such as yourself. Praise God, All have played significant rolls in helping me grow. Andrew Shearman, Dave Brewer and Kevin Aubry are amongst others you know.
The antagonist that immediately comes to mind you also know (initials B.W.) In the year I worked with him he was thorn in my side, but again, The Lord taught me many things about myself that year, things I really needed to address not the least was anger. So I thank God.
The answer to all these life experiences and relationships is an openness and willingness to learn!! Unteachable people always go down in flames.