Parrott, L. & Parrott, L. (2012). Real relationships. Introduction: Our Longing

Parrott, L. & Parrott, L. (2012). Real relationships.
Introduction: Our Longing for Belonging
Chapter 1: The Compulsion for Completion
Chapter 2: Keeping Family Ties from Pulling Strings
Healthy Boundaries
During this first session, we will learn about masks and boundaries. We all have events and situations in our lives that influence us. In order to help and impact others, we must first be able to understand ourselves and who God made us to be. Looking deeper at our lives and analyzing what drives our responses allows us to walk in greater freedom and understanding, in order to have better relationships with our families, spouses, children, friends, co-workers, and supervisors.
Describe masks worn and discuss their impact.
Assess the masks and boundaries they experience and share a self-evaluation of their health.
Compare and contrast the impact of family of origin with the impact of biblical worldview on masks and boundaries.
Deuteronomy 32:7-9 and Psalms 74:16-17.
God set boundaries for us for a reason; we need to learn to set healthy boundaries as well.
In Deuteronomy, when God was dividing up the land between the sons of Jacob, He had specific areas for each one and made clear boundaries. We tend to read those sections of the Bible and skip over parts, wondering how that is important for us today.
As you read these scriptures this week, think about why God set boundaries for the different tribes and why He set boundaries for the earth. Did those boundaries help the people? Did God have a purpose? If He did, does He have a purpose for teaching us about our own boundaries and how we relate and interact with others?
God never does something without a reason behind it. Let’s begin our journey in this course looking deeper at our relationships, consider some of God’s reasons behind what He did, and see how we can integrate some of His heart into our own interactions.
This week think through your own relationships and interactions, and note areas you may need to change in order to walk in increased faith and virtue with every step.
Completion and Masks
God talks a lot about boundaries and interacting with one another.
Chapter 1 of our text discusses our drive for completion.
One specific statement says, “If you try to find intimacy with another person before achieving a sense of identity on your own, all your relationships become an attempt to complete yourself.” (Parrott & Parrott, 2012, p. 20).
Using specific references from the text, Scripture, and life examples, discuss different masks you put on depending upon different roles you may experience at the time (ex: work, family, friends).
How do masks influence the boundaries you have? Are these healthy or unhealthy boundaries?