Rooted in Relationship:

Defining how we love, connect, and grow.

November 16, 2025

Prompt: Where in your relationships do your expectations, definitions of love, or personal needs remain unspoken or unclear?

Activity: Choose one meaningful relationship in your life, past or present. Write responses to the following:

1. What assumptions am I carrying into this relationship?

2. Have I clearly expressed what love, support, or loyalty mean to me?

3. Does this person know my expectations—or am I hoping they will “just know”?

4. What conversations, boundaries, or releases would help this relationship grow in truth and authenticity?

   
   

After writing, identify one small step you can take this week to create clarity—whether that is communicating something honestly, asking a question, or extending grace.

Quote: "The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances: if there is any reaction, both are transformed." -Carl Jung

Relationships shape the way we move through the world. They influence how we show up, how we heal, and how we evolve. At their core, relationships are connections—an intertwining of experiences, emotions, and interactions that reflect both who we are and who we are becoming.

But what kind of connections are we cultivating? Are they genuine and life-giving, or merely convenient and transactional? Most importantly what framework do we use to define, honor, and maintain these relationships?

As I look back over the years, across friendships, family ties, professional connections, and romantic bonds, I realize something: I often expected from others what I gave to them. I assumed our interpretations of love, loyalty, respect, and support were the same. But the truth is, every person arrives with their own understanding shaped by their history, their wounds, their wins, and their worldview. When interpretations differ, expectations collide, and unmet needs can slowly grow into disappointment or distance.

Take my marriage for example. When my husband and I first “fell in love,” the chemistry was undeniably strong, magnetic, and emotional. But over time, we discovered that the words “I love you” carried different meanings for each of us. We hadn’t taken the time individually or collectively to understand what love looked like, felt like, or required from the other person.

Here’s what I learned: “I love you” holds no real power if two people never define what those words mean in practice. Love requires clarity. It calls for courage. It asks us to communicate our expectations honestly and to release what does not align with who we truly are or what we genuinely need.

As I grow older, God continues to refine my understanding of relationships. No matter the season, a healthy connection is always rooted in:

• authenticity,

• honesty,

• transparency,

• effective communication,

• respect for self and for others.

  
  

These principles guide how we love, how we connect, and ultimately how we grow. And through it all, I thank God for His wisdom and His gentle correction as I continue becoming the woman He created me to be.