Is Love the Same as Enabling?

When does love become “enabling”?

Healthy love does help enable someone to be their best at who they are and what they do. It can help keep someone focused in healthy channels and keep them from drifting into dangerous waters.

“Enabling” (as used here) is a term used to describe an action or lack of action that assists someone in the continuation of self-harm or the harm of others.

Loving someone does not mean enabling them to continue harming themselves or their loved ones. It also does not mean allowing them to continue to be deceived.

Sometimes love means being willing to risk their anger and rejection in order to speak truth to them, whether they accept it…or not. Love cannot always be silent.

As President John Quincy Adams once wisely said, “Responsibility is ours. Results are God’s.”

This phrase doesn’t mean things will always work out as we hope and pray. It simply means we ourselves must DO what God guides no matter the results. We must do even though we may not be able to control a situation or those involved. We CAN control whether or not WE do as we should.