Used, abused, not amused [part one]

Do you have people in your life who are simply there to use and abuse you? I mean, those people who bring you nothing but headaches, only here to suck the energy left in you. They have mastered the art of receiving but have totally missed the lessons on giving.

If you haven't met anyone like that yet, worry not, they're coming for you. Keep your eyes open because those predators are as shrewd as mosquitoes. The little beasts rest on you, suck your blood and leave you with a poisonous gift that itches like a yeast infection. They have to be subtle when coming for your blood because they know (oh they know) that if you catch them in the act, it's the death penalty, straight up. Of course, I'm still talking about the mosquitoes. Please, do not kill anyone who uses and abuses of your kindness.

Actually, don't kill anyone, period.

Anyway, I believe that the relationships in our lives have different purposes and not all relationships are meant to last forever. I think that once some of us realize that, we won't hang on to relationships as if our lives depended on it. Some people are here merely to pass us by; they're here for a day, a month, or a year. They just aren't here to stay forever. You won't grow old with a lot of them. Only a few will make you wish you could be together forever and ever. Those temporary "friends" (or whatever you might call them) come to teach us lessons, to build our characters, to open our eyes to something, then POUF! they're gone. I don't mean that they die; just that they're no longer going to be important elements in our lives. 


While the realization that not all friendships carry on a FOREVER mark might sadden some of you, it might bring others a sense of relief. Now you can look at those mosquito friends [who only love you for your human blood and leave you with awful itching, swelling souvenirs] and not feel so much anger and frustration towards them. Why? Because y'all don't have to stay friends! Instead, you ask yourself, "What are they here to teach me? What am I supposed to take from this relationship? Why has this energy-draining, anger-awakening, kindness-abusing person been put on my path?" 


You're allowed to secretly hope that your relationship with the blood-sucking friend is more on the temporary side of God's plan. You're allowed to pray fervently about that. There are just people we don't want to be friends with forever. 


Ahem.


You see, in the past I might have grabbed on to the sleeves of a few people. For different reasons, I was unwilling to let them go, reluctant to endorse failure (because giving up equaled failing), determined to fight for the crumbs, and adamant about leaving my old ways of sternness and impatience behind. The problem is, when you do all those things and fall in the hands of the wrong people, you will be used and abused but, believe me, you will not be amused! Needless to say, my old ways caught up with me and it was with sternness that I dealt with the mosquitoes of my life.


Fool me once, shame on you. USED
Fool me twice, shame on me. ABUSED
Fool me three times nah that ain't happening. NOT AMUSED