Dear Ami,
Yes, I understand. My mother and I have been estranged forever... she just insists on pretending like we're not, and I guess I've gone along with that till now.
But I do think you're very wise to be concerned. I'm concerned, as well... I don't want to expend alot of emotional energy only to get nothing back.
And I've been thinking alot lately of what the Bible says about the importance of choosing friends wisely and I just wonder how that applies to our relationships with our parents... ? The wrong choice of friends can open doors to loads of trouble in a person's life.
And then there's the question of honoring our parents, which of course we must do... but I also know that we're not supposed to get so bogged down in the things of this world (including our family relationships) that we lose sight of the real work at hand.
I only have questions.
Have you pictured this reconciliation in your mind? Do you know how you'd like it to appear?
I have a hard time with that, because I'd feel like I was pouring alot of myself into a perpetually dry dune.
Is your mother open to such a reconciliation? What would you have to do in order to meet her terms?
There's alot to consider, that's for sure.
Love,
Carolyn