Compliments.

My dad and I were talking one day, and he told me I should become a counselor.  I appreciate compliments from my dad because he is present in them. 

I was receiving a slew of suspicious phone calls one day, and Matt finally walked me through how to block the number.  

The suspicious phone calls were coming from a friend trying to reach out.  I answered a call coming from his contact to know.  I did not expect his news, but I did understand the story.  

I didn’t have to ask questions, because he retells his side of the stories honestly. I tried listening as patiently as possible.  

I listened with the faith his consequence would be fair.  Ultimately I was disappointed in his choices, but I was most by his counselor’s.

I do believe people can try harder than consequence, sometimes.  Why must consequence have the greater responsibility?  The consequence has to be ready, firm and it has to hope it will be received.

I was angry at his temptation, a girl who valued herself above the rules of his rehabilitation facility.  I was angry she had an accomplice who helped her selfish agenda.  I was sad a rehabilitation technician complimented his lack of integrity as slick.  

I was disappointed in his counselor.  She had taken his case personally.  

“Do not ever tell me you love your girlfriend again!” was her reaction after he confessed the truth she sought from him.  

I understood how he was misunderstood, and it was sad his case was given up before its prescribed time. 

Patients in a rehabilitation facility are present by choice or without choice because they are learning to love themselves first. How can a counselor expect her patient to make choices in respect to their love for another person, too? 

An opportunity was present: to meet the patient where you are as a professional and nurture trust in the relationship. 

In my opinion, the professional’s reaction and her decision fit.  She could not find the strength in herself.  He was growing in her care, her opinion of herself could only have been inflated if she reacted as if she had been duped.  

I do believe the opportunity to keep him as a patient for a good month longer was risky, but given the details in the moment, I think she missed an opportunity.  Her patient took a step towards her in integrity and she relinquished her responsibility into the hands of consequence.  I am grateful consequence was ready in his favor.   

There is something to be said about a person who accepts fair consequence graciously in their fault.  I didn’t even need to ask how he felt about it for him to tell me he was content in it all. 

As his friend, I understood my disappointment rationally.  I was disappointed he didn’t withstand the temptation by ignoring it.  Instead he chose to surrender to disobedience.  

I will always empathize with any friend of mine how difficult it is to choose self over another human being whether person be honest in their need or convincing in their need.  The latter not only requires the same self-awareness as the former, but just as imperative, discernment of the other person’s spirit, too.  

I do believe he discerned and disobeyed in the spirit of kindness.  His rationale was honest. He confessed there was opportunity in the temptation: to practice establishing a boundary while giving friendship.  Understandable, but integrity cannot be compromised in the presence of temptation.  

The fairness in his consequence seemed to acknowledge the right he paid mind to in his still poor choice.  

Rewind to a time ago, he needed to talk.  He was simultaneously completing community service hours.  Do you know what he told his supervisor when she reminded him phone calls were not allowed on her time?  He says, “I am  getting my hours in with my counselor.” I just loved him in that moment because the conversation we were having was that honest. I was grateful he respected that facet of my friendship. Even though his truth was far fetched, I received the compliment.