2 John 1:1-2 This is the salutation of John's second letter. John refers to himself as the "elder" and he's writing to the "elect lady" and her children. He says he loves them in the truth, and not only him "but also all who know the truth, because of the truth which abides in us and will be with us forever."

Just before reading this, I was pondering my many fractured relationships with family and friends and what to do about them. I was saying the Novena of Surrender and trying to, in my heart, give those relationships and problems entirely to Jesus. But I am a fixer, and I miss those people, and my brain still keeps trying to find a solution - something I can do or say to awaken them to the truth. I plan out meetings and conversations in my head, but I never implement them because the slightest suggestion of a serious conversation causes distress and the discussions never go the way I want them to, they only inspire anger. I think this is because I am trying to fix something that is really only Jesus' to fix. I need to let go.

So I am left not being able to speak freely among those I used to be closest to. When I have to be with them or speak with them, it is so stilted and fake because I am constantly biting down on the truth. But God gave me John's salutation this morning, teaching me, as always. I realized that I love these people, but I do not love them in the truth because they are not in the truth and, right now at least, they are not willing to be.

As I lost these relationships, as incredibly painful as it was, God gave me consolation with new relationships, wonderful ones, with people who are in the truth, or are at least seeking it, and those are the people I want to spend time with.

And so I totally relate to John here. I want to write to and speak to the people I love in the truth, those who are allowing the truth to abide in them and know that it will be with us forever. Those are the only people I can really be myself with right now, and I am so grateful to God for putting them in my life! I must trust that this is the way it has to be for now, and that Jesus is in fact taking care of everything, because that is the truth.