How close is too close? Each one of us has a different answer to that question, depending on our personalities and life experiences. We all put up fences to protect ourselves from being hurt or taken advantage of. But whether that fence has a swinging gate or is topped with barbed wire depends on the individual’s ability to trust.
Trust comes easy for some people, was learned at a young age from loving parents. They learned how to love and be loved. People are welcome to participate in their lives. They have the ability hold someone and feel totally comfortable in that embrace. Self-confidence and inner-strength exude from every pore.
It may be a different story for another. Being an unwanted child, unloved or abused can greatly affect one’s ability to love and trust. The need for self-preservation causes high fences to be built and gates to be locked. Learning to trust anyone is a difficult process. Finding the courage to step outside the gate takes hard work and time.
It is important not to judge a person’s worthiness of being loved based on the height of their fence or the thickness of their gate. These things don’t represent their true value as person but rather are just stumbling bocks to be overcome. Often great treasures are to be found and enjoyed just within the gates.