Honesty and Vulnerability

I love people, I know that is hard to imagine considering what an introvert I am and how exhausting I find people sometimes. I love some in an I want to take care of you kind of way, some I love in a tough love kind of way. I have been an enabler at times other times I have been very tough for the sake of wanting to see loved ones build better lives for themselves. I always have so much advice to give but I have learned the hard way to stop and listen and now I realize people need to see the need for change for themselves. Each day is a chance for God to change us more and more to the image of Jesus Christ. God meets each one of His children in the midst of all of life's circumstances. Whether they are drowning in sin, or have everything and find a dissatisfaction in it. I used to wonder about how some people who have so much can suddenly commit suicide and I realized something. You have the money, you have the cars, you can even be at the top of your career, but then once you achieve it what is there? Soul satisfaction is not achieved. In my life I had at times worked hard to achieve my so-called potential, been in gifted classes, on the dean's list but once I achieved them I am thinking now was it worth it. Only those things that were given away did I feel like it was worth the effort. It blessed others. The bible said its better to give than to receive. Now I just want to love well, to point people to Christ and not be drawn into victim mentalities, blame games, and excuses why specific people aren't doing what they ought.