I have family members and friends I would love to fix. What I mean is, I wish I could wave some kind of magical wand that would create an automatic fix over the pain, confusion, that I see them struggle with. Not saying I don’t have no worries of my own. But I have learned that life means you have to accept some things, even when you don’t really want to. You have to accept your failures. You have to accept that the person you love might not love you back and you can’t make them love you. You have to accept that life can get messy and your emotions will surprise you. You have to accept that you can’t have everything you want. You have to accept that sometimes the ball does not roll in your court.

We have always told people that they needed to succeed in life. We have told love ones that they must reach for the stars, that they must be the very best they can be, that they need to strive for the gusto, and when they get tired and weary, lost and depressed, we tell them to push on. Then when hard times show up, because hard times will always show up, we watch as they fall apart. We wonder why they can’t get their act together.

I can’t fix my love one into getting up from their broken places. But I can sit with them in that broken place. I can be honest with them, and provide the space allowing them to find their way back. As much as it hurts to watch a love one fall, it hurts more if they are not granted the grace to discover their strength.

I can’t fix you, but I will love you.

Rev. JacquiP