Life Consequences

There's a moment when you just realize that no matter what you say or do, you can't change "it" for someone you love.

You can't live their lives or make their mistakes or take their consequences.

You can't take away their pain and frustrations and struggles because of the choices they have made.

You can't fix it for them and you know that any attempts you make to "fix" it, really just hinder that person.

That moment is a hard one to absorb.

I want nothing more than to protect the people I love. I want to protect them from the thoughts and actions of themselves. I want to protect them from the thoughts and actions of others. That's not always possible.

I learned something though. Throughout it all, just as my parents had to learn, and just as their parents had to learn, each one of us has to do what we are going to do in life. And each one of us is going to have consequences for those things.

That doesn't mean that we stop trying to prevent them. It doesn't mean we say "just do whatever you want." It means that we accept people for who they are and the choices that they make. It means that no matter what, I'm going to love you.

This sounds like it's directed at my kids, and while a lot of it is, that's not all. It's directed at all the people in my life that I love and care about. It applies to everyone that I come into contact with.

I'm not judging you. I'm not condeming you. I'm just loving you. Because through it all, that's the only thing I know how to do.