You gotta love Sleeping Beauty!

As I scanned facebook this morning, a friend had posted a picture of Sleeping Beauty and her prince with the caption 'I believe loyalty is built on TRUST'.   That comment is more true today as it ever has been.

Checking on definitions -

Loyalty - 1. the quality or state of being loyal. 2. the tie binding a person to something to which he is loyal.

So - if I read that correctly, it is a tie (a bond?) that draws and holds (binds) a person to that someone, or some thing, to which he believes in and will stand beside.  For example, a husband and wife (or a committed couple) do not look at other men or women because they are committed, and loyal to the person they have chosen to be with.  It is a choice, but a committed one.  Without that commitment from both parties, there is no loyalty.

Trust - 1. assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something.  One in which confidence is placed. 2. dependence on something future or contingent. a charge or duty imposed in faith or confidence or as a condition of some relationship. to rely on the truthfulness or accuracy of, to believe and place confidence in.

I feel the definition of Trust explains it well.  You know you can believe in the character, the ability, the strength or the truth of someone.  You put your heart in that belief.

But what happens when that loyalty is broken; that trust is destroyed?  What does one do?  You still have a choice.  You can choose to walk away and focus your broken heart on the things that need your attention right now, to be the best that you can be.  Or, you can run around like a whipped puppy and get kicked and beaten up with non-trust and non-loyalty time and time again.

I'm grateful that even with our issues, my hubby and I have never strayed from our commitment to each other.   I think we both decided long ago that this commitment was here to stay, that to move into another relationship was only taking the issues with us.  Or baggage into other relationships - which is what we both did when we started our relationship.  We have had to work through some major issues.  Still do at times.  But we stick together, not taking our committed relationship to others.

Baggage.  It can destroy you, or it can make you stronger.  Some people bring baggage with them from their childhood.  They have always done this so even though the results have always been the same, they want to keep doing it.  They don't want to change.

Some people bring baggage from their previous relationships or marriage.  Those people need to open their eyes to see that  bringing old baggage that didn't work in the first (or second, or third) relationship will probably not work in the current relationship.  And that goes for both sides. 

Regardless of how you feel about a person - you can like them a lot, you can care for them - but that relationship can be toxic for you if you don't have trust and loyalty.  If that relationship is one you can not trust the other person to be faithful to you and you alone, then you need to pull up your boot straps and walk away, regardless of how much it hurts.  You need to withhold any comments, to not spread rumors whether true or not.  You don't need to 'set the record straight' with family members.  You need to hold your head high and walk away with integrity.

Life sucks sometimes.  Life sometimes isn't fair.  I've been there, I know what I'm talking about.  When you hear that a loved one isn't being honest with you, is unfaithful to you, is unconcerned about you, it breaks your heart.  But you determine you will be strong and you will get through it.  Show them what you are made of.  You aren't a blubbering idiot like they say you are - stand tall and be proud.  Listen to those who love you and want only the best for you.  Reach out to those who will walk the journey with you.  You are not alone.  You may hear 'I told you so' - and that's ok.  Listen.  Change your focus on those that need you.

God doesn't allow you to go through these journeys alone.  He believes in you when others walk away.  He will never give up on you.  He will walk with you every step of the way.  You can trust His loyalty.  You can never do anything that will cause Him to turn his back on you.  He loves you and chooses to have a committed relationship with you.

Michael W. Smith posted on facebook this morning the following words from his Healing Rain album:

"When you're down and out
When you're on the street
When evening falls so hard
I will comfort you
I'll take your part, when darkness comes
And pain is all around
Like a bridge over troubled water"...from Bridge Over Troubled Water on HEALING RAIN (written by Paul Simon)

and a comment from Bill Johnson, evangelist:

One of the greater challenges in life is to NOT pick up the offense of a friend.

Stop and take a few minutes to reflect on your life, where it has been, where it is, and where you want it to go.  Set goals, determine that you will not stay where you are, but that you will grow where you are planted.   God has plans for you; He is loyal to you; He is faithful.   Hold on tight to His hand.  He will walk with you.

Blessings!