Hope in Hard PlacesIhe Atụ

Plant Boundaries

For military families, celebrations away from their loved ones are common.

Work schedules, financial constraints, or a lack of leave time often dictate this. Society is inundated with idyllic portrayals of harmonious family gatherings and celebrations. Yet, the reality for military families involves growth and change, potentially causing conflicts.

To navigate these challenges, establishing and maintaining boundaries becomes crucial. However, many grapple with the notion that setting boundaries may contradict their Christian faith—a fear that requires dispelling.

PLANT your boundaries

• PRAY for your heart, your family's heart, your interactions, and peace.
• LOGISTICS need to be thought out. Are you taking a car to the event so that you can leave when you are ready or if it becomes necessary? If not, do you have the Uber or Lyft app on your phone?
• ANNOUNCE your boundaries to your family. Let them know that you will not participate in things that cross your boundaries.
• NAVIGATE the bumps. Understand that it may take your family a minute to adjust to your boundaries.
• TERMINATE the interaction if off-limits issues are happening, boundaries are repeatedly crossed, or safety is an issue. This may mean leaving a conversation with a particular family member while remaining at the event. It may look like leaving the event altogether.

A German field marshal, Moltke the Elder said, “No plan of operations extends with certainty beyond the first encounter with the enemy’s main strength.”

Be like Jesus.

Drawing inspiration from Jesus' ministry, where he employed boundaries effectively, we can adopt the PLANT acronyms to guide us.

Finally, as 1 Corinthians 10:31 reminds us, "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." In facing family challenges, maintaining faith and values becomes an opportunity to bring light into darkness.

Adapted from a Planting Roots Article by Morgan Farr.