Picking Up Wounded Sheep

I remember, maybe almost two years ago, saying to myself that I was done picking up wounded sheep. That I would just let them bleed out. I think a lot of different cumulative things got me to this point. I felt like I was always helping people or trying to probably rescue them, but it wasn’t my job.

Yikes, doesn’t this sound so cynical? Well, maybe, but it’s from a place where I’ve been burned a time (or two). There was also a time when it felt like the fire almost burned me alive, and the recovery from that is too much to go through again.

Historically, I couldn’t help it. I love people, and I’m always going to do my best to try to help someone. But it got to the point where I was getting burned again, and again.

Now, I realize that I was just picking up the wrong kind of wounded sheep.

That was the real problem.

It’s about learning how to discern which sheep need help and which sheep you just gotta walk past and let them figure it out because it’s not your battle. Because sometimes they are lying there and they’re making the wound worse. They are committed to their chaos. They are being an active participant in their own demise, and they’re going to take everything from you if you stop and fall into it.

So you have to really work on determining which sheep to pick up. I’m still working on that part but recognizing this has been tremendous in helping me in that pause.

And just the recognition of this pattern has helped me to better evaluate where to spend my energy and where to pour my heart. The journey in this area of my life has been about learning when to step in, when to pause, and how to protect my peace without losing compassion.

Guys, boundaries aren’t cruel in these circumstances; they are necessary. It’s a tough and ongoing lesson. Because I still care and love people deeply, I just don’t have to bleed with them to prove it. Neither do you.

Don’t let unfiltered empathy without discernment let you sacrifice yourself.