We should make every reasonable effort to help others feel safe and comfortable around us. This can be seen as a spirit of hospitality and serving others in love. But reasonable means there are also limitations and our care for others should not get to the point of walking on eggshells to simply avoid rocking the boat.
On the one hand, love calls us to make sacrifices in our efforts to bring more life and goodness to others. We take the hit to give others something better.
But our sacrifices should still be motivated by love and not merely keeping the other person happy per se. While love is patient and kind, it’s not always warm and fuzzy. And sometimes love is disruptive as it challenges the status quo.
To be sure, we’re simply faking the peace when we walk around on eggshells. This is not true love. It’s not in the best long-term interest of the other and it quickly leads to deep resentments in our own soul.
This happens, for example, when we avoid hard conversations with our wife because we don’t want to upset her. Or when we let our kids take advantage of us because we don’t want to risk disrupting our relationship with them. And it might also be the case that we simply go along with public opinion to avoid any potential of public shame.
Whatever it looks like, walking on eggshells is only a pacifier and does not address issues in a meaningful way.
Of course, this doesn’t mean we should carelessly break the peace by being inconsiderate of others. Our words and actions have consequences, and we must remain mindful of the effect we have on others.
As true peacemakers we’re neither walking on eggshells nor recklessly bringing harm to others by our indifference. Instead, we clearly communicate our expectations and set the standards for our relationships without caving in or blowing up.
In the end, don’t let the niceties of walking on eggshells keep you from exercising true love. Be kind and considerate yet unwavering in promoting God’s best for all.
Photo by Daniele Levis Pelusi on Unsplash
