
Peace
I was thinking today about relationships. Not any one type in particular but how we as women respond or react in all of them, regardless of the type. Woman are taught from early on to be nurturing, compassionate, loving, giving and to be a healer as well. So we will look at these terms briefly (All that know me know I'm a dictionary buff):
Nurture- 1:The sum of influences modifying the expression of the genetic potentialities of an organism. 2:To further the development of.
Compassion- (Etymology L com + pati to bear--more at patient)Sympathetic consciousness of others distress together with the desire to alleviate it.
Love- (My only comprehensible understanding) The highest form of understanding with a bond so strong that it cannot be broken. (In the realm of emotion I have to say,I don't truly know, nor have I experienced a pure or untampered emotional love)
Give- 1:To commit to another as a trust or responsibility and for an expressed reason 2: To offer as a pledge
Heal- 1:To make whole. 2:Mend 3:To restore to original purity or integrity.
Now with this in mind, what do you think happens when hurt, deceit, tragedy, and/or pain are introduced to that woman?
Answer: She protects herself!! In any way possible and by any means necessary.
If you are one of those fortunate women who has not allowed life to taint you and make you bitter or jaded....GREAT. If you are one of those women who can rationalize well enough to put your past in the proper perspective...GREAT.
With that being said have patience, compassion, understanding, and love for individuals who cant express or were never taught those key elements mentioned above.People come into our life for a particular reason or several reasons. We should never loose sight of the fact that pain, hurt, deceit, and tragedy are powerful. Powerful enough to stifle any individuals growth and development.
Personally I was not taught certain key elements that all young women should be taught. For a long time I was directionless and through someone else's compassion, I was able to find and acquire these principals for myself and later on developed them further for the sake of my children and any husband that I would have.I must say that I have, am, and will eternally continue to grow in this area of womanhood.
This topic came up for me because of several relationships that I have seen take shape in my life. I have seen people who's pain ran so deep that they could not be reached, I have seen individuals who can be everything for everyone else but can't accept love and compassion toward themselves, I have seen people who can't bare to look at themselves and therefore could and would never reveal themselves to anyone.Does that make anyone of them less worthy of our love, compassion, giving, nurturing or healing? I have come to say no. Now I must say I still do not know how to respond to every situation or personality type that is thrown my way. I do however give every one a chance to be a part of my life and receive all that I have to offer and will to learn much from them,until it is time for that relationship to die.
I respect and appreciate every person that has crossed my path. I am humbled at the very though that I could have affected someones life in any way.I am appreciative of my children because they keep me, I am appreciative of my husband because he shows me a love that was unknown to me and they all keep me grounded. So in this season of rest and death I hold dear all the things that help elevate me and aide in my growth in going to the next level. When New Year for me comes (Spring Solstice)I look forward to seeing what I have accomplished in making my own worst part my best part within that 196,940,000 square miles.

Here is another Tao Te Ching Quote:
The Way bears all things;
Harmony nurtures them;
Nature shapes them;
Use completes them.
Each follows the Way and honours harmony,
Not by law,
But by being.
The Way bears, nurtures, shapes, completes,
Shelters, comforts, and makes a home for them.
Bearing without possessing,
Nurturing without taming,
Shaping without forcing,
This is harmony.

Peace