Marsha agonized over her daughter Julie’s victimization as a child. Julie’s father had abused her verbally all of her growing up years causing her unresolved physical and emotional pain. When they would talk, Julie made sarcastic comments to her mother concerning Marsha’s poor relational choices. Marsha had apologized to Julie for her poor choices and the harm done to her daughter and was ready to move on to a more hopeful future for both of them.
Marsha asked herself, “Is Julie’s inability to move on a good reason for me to forfeit my personal peace and well being by allowing these comments to continue?” Marsha knew that if she truly cared about herself in a healthy way, it was time to set a healthy boundary between the two of them. In the next conversation they had Marsha said to Julie, “I love you Julie and I don’t think it would be best for me to hang out with you for right now. This won’t be forever.”
In setting this boundary, Marsha feared permanent rejection from Julie but also had the greater hope that God would teach both to look at Him and through Him find true peace, unity and healing.
During her prayer time, Marsha was directed to Psalm 45 and was excited to find verses 10-15. From the Message Bible she prayed for the both of them, “Now listen, daughter, don’t miss a word: forget your country, put your home behind you. Be here -the King is wild for you. Since He’s Lord, adore Him. Wedding gifts pour in; rich guests shower you with presents.” Her wedding dress is dazzling, lined with gold by the weavers; All her dresses and robes are woven with gold. She is led to the King, followed by her virgin companions. A procession of joy and laughter!
Marsha’s great hope was that King Jesus would bring them both to this place of joy and laughter, in His time and in His way. She could courageously rest in this loving boundary with Julie and prayerfully trust God’s love and faithfulness to both of them.
