Building A Support System

Written by Desirae Shawn

This week, someone told me of a man who went to visit his hometown after being away for years.  He had been gone so long his own father didn’t recognize him.  After he reintroduced himself, the reunion was joyous—they had a wonderful, hour-long conversation.

What makes this special is the fact that the man had endured an estranged relationship with his father since the death of his mother at the age of five.  After the young man graduated and left home, he seldom returned.

As I listened to the story, I thought of how a family was reunited. How it  took an uncommon courage  for the man to reach out to his dad and the relief he must have felt when his father responded positively.  Then I thought of how thankful I was to have my own family with their positive influence and active participants in my life while growing up—they still are to this day.  In fact, I get teary-eyed thinking if my situation were like the man’s.

However, I’m reminded of God’s provisions.  Although the man did not grow up with a strong family unit, God provided a wonderful church family and friends.  He gave this man a support system that met his needs.

Do you have a support system?  Here’s some tips for creating a solid one:

Assess your relationships.  Who is in your life at the moment?  Who builds you up or tears you down?  Who do you need for God to bring into your life to help you become the person you need to become or to accomplish a goal or task?

Pray that God will bring along the right people into your life to help get you where He wants you to be.  I’ve prayed for the past few years that God would be bring me women friends who were drama-free and enjoyed similar activities.  Although he has not brought one that enjoys 4-wheeling or target practice as much as I do, He has definitely brought along numerous ones who are loving, supportive, encouraging and drama-free.

Foster the healthy relationships that are already established.  Those who love, support and encourage you on a continual basis are the keepers.  Also, they are always honest with you, even if the information they share stings.  Spend time and counsel with these people on a regular basis.

Distance yourself from any unhealthy relationships.  Yes, there are some folks you cannot part from, such as family.  However, you can definitely start establishing some limitations and boundaries and becoming aware of the amount of time spent with this person.

A strong support system is one of the most important resources we could have in our lives.  Unconditional support helps us live richer lives, in spite of the diversified environments or circumstances we face. We all need someone to stick by us. Don’t be afraid to connect with others. God will provide!

Desirae Shawn balances life as an independent distributor for SendOutCards  (a greeting card and gifting company) with a marriage of five years and parenting her 9-year-old son. She enjoys the outdoors and loves working with children. Find out more at www.frommetoyou.biz.