Coming and Going

3rd October, 2011 - Posted by admin - No Comments

Jesus said, “I know where I came from and where I am going” (John 8:14).

One of the benefits of therapy is that of exploring your own story so that you know with
clarity and confidence “where you came from.” The beliefs we form as children about
ourselves and about the world we live in can be accurate or misleading, life-giving or
destructive. Exploring your story helps you to decide which beliefs you need to keep
(because they’re true) and which you want to replace (because they are not accurate or
helpful).

Cultural, spiritual, educational, and family influences remain powerful throughout our
lives. Early relationships with parents, siblings, relatives, and friends give us our sense
of identity. If I know “where I came from,” I’m in a better position to see “where I need
to go.” Processing all this with someone who sees and understands me can be life-
changing.

Jesus clearly heard his Father say, “You are my dearly loved son, and you bring me
great joy” (Luke 3:22 NLT). May we give that same assurance to our own children, our
spouses, our grandchildren, and all those in our circle of love. Don’t under-estimate the
power you have to give the gift of significance and meaning to someone else. It can make
a big difference in where that person is “going.”

- Martha Saul, LMFT