Uncle Steve has been troubled for much of his life.  He has had accidents and a whole lot of misfortune throughout his life.   HE has led a wildlife.  Drugs, alcohol and sex are just some of the items he used to ease his pain.  HIs body and mind are broken. IN the process of escaping all his pain he was also abusive and combative to those around him.  He violated boundaries of not only those around him but his family as well. 

One day Steve came home to find all his stuff on the lawn.  His wife had had enough of his abuse and leach lifestyle.  He left for higher ground and realized his life was a mess.  He didn’t know what to do with this newfound knowledge that he had known for most of his life.  HIS LIFE WAS A MESS.

Steve reached out to the only brother who would still talk to him.  Uncle Danny loved him with all his heart and knew for a long time that Steve was sick and needed help.  His brother was thrilled to hear of Steve’s new enlightenment that he knew his life was a mess.  However, Steve wanted money from his brother.  Steve thought that would fix everything.  It would give him the new start he needed.  Uncle Danny declined to give him any money, and he was unsure if he should keep talking to his brother.

Steve made a connection that since his brother wouldn’t give him any money he was just as bad as all the rest of his brothers who would no longer speak to him due to his antics in the past.  WRONG!  Uncle Danny LOVED him very much.      

Uncle Danny did not know what to do about Steve.  So, he called his good friend for some insight.  Here is how Steve’s friend responded:

Yes, you are correct, Steve wants money.  However, what he really wants is help. What he can see, is that his life sucks.  He knows he needs help.  The problem with Steve though, is he thinks money is going to fix it.  He can’t see the abuse he put others through.  He can’t figure out that he is a bum leach and that he can’t expect everyone else to provide for him.  He can’t see that he needs to clean himself up and make a ton of changes.  He can’t see he has no relationship with God.  THE DUDE IS BASICALLY BLIND!

However, Steve does know he has family.  He also knows that family is a place that you are supposed to be able to go to get help and support.  The friend went on to tell Uncle Danny that there is something he can still do for his brother Steve.  He can talk to him and provide him a safe space to just talk and process.  Steve is so far gone off the scale that if you told him he needs to get his crap together, that would just piss him off even more and you would never hear from him again.  So, you just listen and wait. What for what? For it to be his idea.  What idea?  That he needs to make changes!  Then you can add to his resolve.  Until then, all you can do for the man is listen and LOVE HIM. 

The friend continued:  That is what God wants us to DO!  LOVE others.  Steve is your brother who never harmed you.  So, you have no reason to stop talking to him.  In fact, you have even MORE reason to LOVE HIM.