Need to Soften My Heart

Need to Soften My Heart

Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Hello Snacks, if that's true, then it seems like the Lord may already be busy at work helping you to do just that, yes .. Philippians 1:6, 2:13; Ephesians 3:20-21 (especially when you consider that patience and kindness are needed, and that they are also the two most important/principal ingredients in agape .. see 1 Corinthians 13:4, or just look at 1 Cor 13 below in my signature line).

In this way, the Lord may help the two of you be a blessing to one aother (as it sounds like your "Debbie Downer" friend is pretty needy right now and, on the other hand, he needs to know what you do about the Lord and His salvation, even if he isn't aware of that fact at the moment .. cf Romans 10:17).

Perhaps you should begin by praying for him and for his salvation on a regular basis

God bless you!

~Deut

Suggest he become a member here Don't tell him your user name though

A friend from youth moved back in town after many years. He’s a “Debbie Downer” and his constant barrage of negativity about EVERYTHING in life is physically and emotionally draining to everyone who knows him. Waitresses in our local diner actually told him to brighten up and talk about positive things otherwise they wouldn’t serve him.

After being back in town a few months he suffered a stroke and spent a year in rehab but is now back home. He doesn’t want visitors because he feels he is susceptible to Covid so he reaches out by texting. He was texting me once a day, then twice a day, now its three times a day, sometimes as early as 5:30AM. I don’t even communicate with my family members that often.

God forgive me because I understand he’s bored and depressed, but he’s become an intrusion. I only respond to about 1/3 of his texts and recently started blocking him on weekends. I need to soften my heart, overcome my apathy towards him and be a good example of Christian faith, but if I give him an inch he’ll take a mile. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Hello Snacks, if that's true, then it seems like the Lord may already be busy at work helping you to do just that, yes .. Philippians 1:6, 2:13; Ephesians 3:20-21 (especially when you consider that patience and kindness are needed, and that they are also the two most important/principal ingredients in agape .. see 1 Corinthians 13:4, or just look at 1 Cor 13 below in my signature line).

In this way, the Lord may help the two of you be a blessing to one aother (as it sounds like your "Debbie Downer" friend is pretty needy right now and, on the other hand, he needs to know what you do about the Lord and His salvation, even if he isn't aware of that fact at the moment .. cf Romans 10:17).

Perhaps you should begin by praying for him and for his salvation on a regular basis

God bless you!

~Deut

A friend from youth moved back in town after many years. He’s a “Debbie Downer” and his constant barrage of negativity about EVERYTHING in life is physically and emotionally draining to everyone who knows him. Waitresses in our local diner actually told him to brighten up and talk about positive things otherwise they wouldn’t serve him.

After being back in town a few months he suffered a stroke and spent a year in rehab but is now back home. He doesn’t want visitors because he feels he is susceptible to Covid so he reaches out by texting. He was texting me once a day, then twice a day, now its three times a day, sometimes as early as 5:30AM. I don’t even communicate with my family members that often.

God forgive me because I understand he’s bored and depressed, but he’s become an intrusion. I only respond to about 1/3 of his texts and recently started blocking him on weekends. I need to soften my heart, overcome my apathy towards him and be a good example of Christian faith, but if I give him an inch he’ll take a mile. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you.