a fresh start

I'm thinking again..........

I was introduced to someone recently and moments into our first conversation had all sorts of things to say. I'm so careful in all of my relationships and maybe too much so. I'm thinking of just taking this opportunity with this person I don't know, to be really honest from the get-go and tell her what I really think from the very beginning. She doesn't know that I usually walk on eggshells. I'm usually great about being honest about myself and transparent with whatever is going on with me, but I have become so bland lately. Wonder what it would be like to just say what I am thinking? Is it cruel to go into a new friendship as an experiment?

When A Prodigal Returns.

I've got something swimming around in my head lately and I'm not sure what I think. I've been thinking what our response is to be when a prodigal son (or daughter) returns home. I think about the parable and the response of the father, that even through the son's protesting, the father calls for the robe and ring. The father completely accepts the prodigal. Truth is, I struggle with this... I don't know how to receive a person who has run away to do their own thing, who now wants to return. My tendency is to want them to "pay" in some way - or at minimum, they wouldn't be invited to the front of the line... Anyway, I know that we're to forgive as many times as we're asked, too, but where do boundaries come in and how do we guard against abuse?

Your thoughts?