WoW 139: On 5 reflections about love and breaking generational wounds [Words of Wisdom]


Plant seeds of wisdom today

Take the next 24 or so breaths slowly and reflect deeply on your life. I hope these words help you grow in you the most valuable treasure in life: wisdom. Wisdom grows imperceptibly but flourishes like a mighty oak, standing the test of time.

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I.

We want the unseen to be seen by letting others in.
We want the controllers to learn to connect by surrendering.

II.

Loving God and others is never enough. You must let God and others love you, and learn to love yourself. Until you learn to receive love, you cannot give it.

III.

If you need someone, including yourself, to live or act a certain way in order to love them, then you’ve already lost them.

IV.

Love doesn’t mean acceptance without consequences. It does mean valuing, sacrificing, serving, celebrating, disagreeing, saying no, and taking space.

V.

The best thing about marriage is it prevents you from instantly fulfilling your desires. Marriage destroys selfishness, if you let it. Your commitment and pursuit of intimacy calls you far deeper than surface level satisfactions, and invites you into surrender, deep presence, and transformation.

Quotes

“Family pathology rolls from generation to generation taking down everything in it’s path like a fire in the woods until one person in one generation has the courage to face the flames. That person brings peace to their ancestors and spares the children.”

Terry Real, on 6/25/24 in a couples therapy training.

"Once recovering persons acknowledge the truth of who they are and feel love for themselves in the face of that truth, they are prepared to recognize it in others. They now have a personal spiritual template that guides their vision to perceive other spiritual realities in the world, the most important of which is other people, whom they now recognize as having, like themselves, inherent worth. It changes the way they treat people and the way they are treated in return. This ultimately is what makes intimate relationships possible, and it makes them work.”

Pia Mellody, The Intimacy Factor

Questions

Will you sit in the light of God’s loving presence today and just breathe for 10 minutes?

Will you sit in the light of another’s presence, love with curiosity, and listen deeply?

What is a generational wound showing up in your life? What courageous step will help break that cycle?
(Use these questions to guide your prayers and journals this week)

Endnote

Open yourself to love and let that love guide you.

Live wisely,

Josh



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Josh Kalsbeek, LMFT

I help people overcome their strongholds and grow in wisdom. The quality of your life stems from the depth of your connection to God, to yourself, and to others, and the courageous action you take out of that connection.

Read more from Josh Kalsbeek, LMFT

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Plant seeds of wisdom today Take the next 27 or so breaths slowly and reflect deeply on your life. I hope these words help you grow in you the most valuable treasure in life: wisdom. Wisdom grows imperceptibly but flourishes like a mighty oak, standing the test of time. Read in your browser. Listen instead of reading If you prefer listening, you can subscribe to the audio version on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast player. Help spread wisdom and leave me a positive review if...

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