“We throw “sorry” around like confetti at a parade nobody asked for.”

In my last post, I shared how I used to love with a score card in my heart, giving generously while secretly hoping for the same love in return. I loved thinking if I love you like this, you will have to love me back the same. That kind of love left me exhausted and disappointed. Learning to love the way Jesus calls me to, freely, heavily, and without keeping score, has brought a deep peace I never expected.

But here’s what I’m discovering next on this journey: loving without score doesn’t mean loving without limits.

For a long time……..

Step 1 begins with a simple, honest cry for help. We admit that we are powerless over life's issues and that our lives have become unmanageable. Our best thinking got us here—our way, our choices, and our will have led to brokenness.

“I used to love people in the way I wanted to be loved. I'd pour out care, attention, and kindness, quietly hoping maybe even expecting that it would come back to me in the same measure. It felt natural, almost fair. But over time, that kind of love left me weary, tangled in disappointment when the response didn't match what I'd given.”

You’re standing on the edge of a cliff. Wind whips around you. The drop below is endless, a vast canyon, river racing below, clouds swirling around.. Your toes clenched over the rock. Heart racing. But, you've been here before, metaphorically speaking: that moment when life, faith, healing, a calling, or raw surrender asks you to move forward. But moving forward means letting go. It means stepping into the nothing; the things you can’t see or control.

And in that silence, the question spills out, half accusation, half plea:

“God, why don’t you just push me?”

“I know I wasn’t a good mom, but I’m so proud of you.”

Her words carried a kind of quiet sadness.

My mom doesn’t talk about it often, but I see it in the way her eyes linger when we’re together or how her voice softens when she mentions the past. She looks back and sees the places where she feels she fell short, moments of impatience, distractions, choices made under pressure, times when life pulled her in too many directions at once. She replays those scenes and sometimes whispers, “I didn’t do it right.”

It breaks my heart to hear her say that.

Because from where I stand, she gave everything she had. She loved fiercely, even when she was exhausted. She carried responsibilities most people never saw. She was learning to fight demons that haunted her life. And without even realizing it, she planted seeds of her own, love, resilience, values, and little lessons wrapped in everyday moments.

Maybe you’ve heard it before. Maybe as a kid, maybe from a friend, a family member, or even a mentor:

"You're too emotional."

"Woe is you, you always feel sorry for yourself."

"Can you talk to Rae Anne? She's too emotional."

"You're just too sensitive."

I have!

Yet, acknowledging this doesn't mean we give up. It means we are fighting smarter. We can and must stand against injustice, but with a blend of heart and head. Logic and common sense remind us that change requires strategy, not just slogans. Facts matter, but you can't fight feelings with facts alone. People are emotional beings first; if we dismiss their pain or anger, we lose them. Instead, let's honor those feelings while layering it in love, listening ears and living communication. For example, it's valid to be furious about ( insert whatever there is plenty to choose from)  but channeling that into targeted actions like supporting evidence-based policies or community initiatives turns rage into results!!!

But, the real game-changer? Emotional maturity. We've been sold this myth that emotions are zero-sum: you're either angry or at peace, hopeful or outraged. But that's not how it works. True strength lies in holding multiple emotions at once. It's okay to be…….

It’s one of those things we constantly ponder in Christianity that can frazzle our brains if we let it. I mean, wouldn’t it be nice if God just laid it out plain, simple, and easy to understand…?

Here’s the good news: the Trinity isn’t just some abstract thing to debate. It’s God’s intentional design for relating to us, His children. Think of it as 3in1: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, each playing a unique role while being perfectly united in mind, heart, and soul.

I am no theologian. I didn’t go to seminary, and by no means do I think I have a monopoly on complete understanding. Seriously, if any one person held the key to all understanding and complete knowledge, would we even need the 3in1?