Your responsibility: Stay present.

It’s wild how quickly the pressure creeps in this time of year.
To manage everyone’s emotions.
To fix what’s broken.
To keep the peace, smooth the tension, hold all the pieces together, and somehow make sure everyone feels okay.

But it turns out—your job isn’t to do any of that.
That’s distraction.
It steals your attention from the real mission Jesus has given you.
The one He’s given all of us:

To love them.
Plain and simple.
And honestly? Plain and hard.

Not to love the version of them you wish they were.
Not the “more mature,” “more thoughtful,” or “more self-aware” version you hope they’ll grow into.
But to love them where they actually are—right now—in all their humanity, all their nuance, all their rough edges and unpolished places.

That’s the work.
That’s the calling.
That’s the way Jesus loves us every single day.

You’re not responsible for their healing, transformation, reactions, or growth.
You’re responsible to stay present.
Stay soft.
Stay grounded in grace.
And to believe for the Jesus in THEM, even when it feels hard or distant.
Because that’s what He does for you. Over and over and over again, Jesus fights for the best in you.

So as you step into rooms or memories that feel layered or tender, know that God sees you + take a deep breath:
You don’t need to fix it.
You don’t need to manage it.
You aren’t called to prove yourself relevant or worthy—just to be you. And to be in close proximity to Jesus. And to live out of THAT space.

To be fully present with others because you have invited the Holy Spirit’s presence first— That’s the freedom. And that’s the power 🤍