Red Flags
by Harriet Hairston
Do you have a characteristic that acts as both a blessing AND a curse? I do. I always want to see the best in other people, sometimes to the point where I blind myself to the red flags before my eyes. It’s one thing to be compassionate, and yet another to excuse ridiculous behavior. This could apply to a relationship, a work situation or even a family member. If red flags arise, it’s best to deal with them then and there, no matter how subtle it seems. I’ve learned that if you blind yourself once, you will continue to blind yourself until the negativity snowballs out of control.
I could end this article right there. Not too much more for me to add. It’s necessary at home, in church, in the workplace, and even among family members. Tara talked about a huge red flag Jennifer Sanford noticed on the day she married her now-estranged husband (the governor of South Carolina). What is it about love and loyalty that causes people to throw common sense out of the window? What is it about enmeshed relationships that cause people to go beyond being unselfish to loving another person or group of people to their own detriment?
I have determined that I will not allow anything beyond the mandate of the Lord to make me a martyr. I have to live to raise my children, love my husband, create wealth for myself and others, and a myriad of other missions that are assigned to me. I am determined to nip every red flag I see in the bud to prevent unnecessary drama to ensue in my life.
What kinds of red flags have you swept under the carpet in your life, BMWK? What do you think you can do to prevent blinding yourself to red flags that may be a detriment to you, your family, and your marriage?
Harriet Hairston is a woman who slips and slides in and out of labels (military officer, human resource manager, minister, mentor, spoken word artist and teacher). The only ones that have stuck so far are “wife” and “mother” (the most important in her estimation). The rest have taught her well that only what she does for Christ will last. She joyously writes for the site Black and Married with Kids and her own blog entitled “Can She SAY That?!?” There is one more permanent label she holds: “author.” You can purchase her first book, “Who Are You?” simply by clicking on the link or going to https://www.createspace.com/3430012. You can also contact her at harriet_hairston@yahoo.com.
Add a comment
Comments (6)