Navigating Relationships with Love

Updated 10/24/26

Understanding the Challenge of Acceptance

There was a time when my pastor taught a series on religious spirits. A couple of the sermons really grabbed my attention. I thought, “That's me. That is what I am dealing with.” During those sermons, I paid close attention and took notes.

In one of the sermons, the pastor shared an example of being friendly to someone, only to receive a rude or unkind response. When this happens, we need not be offended. You just don't know what that person faced before facing you. They could be responding to something else, and we need to respond with love by not taking offence.

Not long after, I experienced this firsthand. I greeted a lady at church I didn’t know her very well, but I've seen her at church quite a bit. Her response felt like a blow off. Not very friendly. Normally, I would have felt hurt and avoided her in the future.

But, this time, however, I decided to test what the pastor had preached and what the words. So, I prayed, “Lord? Did You see that? How should I feel about that?”

I sensed in my spirit that He said, “Forgive fast, as if this never happened. You don’t know what she had been going through before that moment. It would be better if you forgave her. When you see her again, try again without bringing this up. Just like in My word, 'I forgave you' and 'when I could have been offended, I cast the memory into the sea of forgetfulness.'”

The Power of Forgiveness

Micah 7:19 reminds us, He will again have compassion on us and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.

The next time I saw her, I did exactly what the Lord had told me. I greeted her as if it were the first time. To my surprise, she responded warmly and kindly.

A New Chapter: Blending Families

Fast forward to when my husband and I got married. He brought three children into our union. I made it clear to them that I wasn’t their mom and that my role was not to replace her. Their mom was their mom, and I respected that. However, I also wanted to be treated with the respect that a mother deserves.

I knew my husband had been a single dad for much of their lives. I hoped that having someone to at least do the “mom job” would encourage them to be friendly.

Please note that the "Brady Bunch" is not real life! I wasn’t an addition to their family. Nope, I was their dad’s wife. There was no family attachment here. The only level of friendship was as minimal as they could manage while still keeping peace with their dad.

Navigating Challenges

The child living with us wasn’t directly rude, but I often felt he could challenge me at any moment. There was no communication, no response, and no contribution from him at all. Unless you asked him to help out, then fault finding was his weapon of choice.

Just like before, I prayed, “Lord? Do You see this? Am I doing something wrong? If it's me, please let me know. What must I do to close this gap? Why does this boy not respond to me? Am I doing a bad mom job?”

I felt the Lord respond, “His behavior and attitude towards you isn’t about you. He doesn’t let you in because he doesn’t know how. His mom wasn’t around to teach him how to handle mom interaction. He doesn't have a reference of what a mom normally does. So, here you are, and he doesn’t know how to be anything other than himself without you.”

Holding Onto Hope

I took this response to heart. During tough times, I reminded myself that the reactions I received weren’t meant for me. They were meant for someone else who wasn’t there.

Dear Lord, thank You for all the blessings, especially the ones I don’t see or take for granted. Help me to love others like You do—love without expecting anything in return. Please soften the hearts of those around me and those I meet so they can heal from their past lacks and receive the compassion You offer through me in the here and now.

I choose to be a vessel of Your love and grace, extending kindness even when it isn’t reciprocated. I trust that, in time, hearts will open and wounds will heal. Until then, I will continue to walk in patience, understanding, and faith, knowing that Your love never fails.

Encouragement for the Unseen

May this story encourage anyone who feels unseen, unheard, or unappreciated. You are valued beyond measure, and your kindness has the power to change lives, even when it feels unnoticed. In Jesus' name...

Keep pressing forward with hope and courage, for brighter days are ahead.

Further Your Faith: Embracing the 'Mom Job'

True 'Mom Job' ministry—and indeed, all Christian service—isn't about the appreciation we receive but the love we pour out. When we encounter coldness, indifference, or a "gap" in a relationship, it rarely reflects our worth. Often, we are simply receiving a reaction meant for someone else’s past mistakes.

Today, choose to forgive quickly. Don’t let the 'Brady Bunch' expectation of a perfect response steal your peace. Instead, ask God for His perspective so you can see the "past lacks" in others and respond with a grace that heals.

Biblical Reflections

• Luke 6:35: But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.

• 1 Corinthians 13:4-5: Love is patient, love is kind... It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

  
  

• Romans 12:21: Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.

  
  

• 1 Peter 3:9: Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

  
  

• Psalm 147:3: He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

  
  

• Isaiah 61:1: The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me... He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.

  
  

• Galatians 6:9: Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

  
  

Have you ever faced a 'Brady Bunch' expectation met with a real-life reality check? How did you handle that moment of indifference? Please share your thoughts and comments below; we would love to hear from you!