Love and boundaries are not mutually exclusive. In fact, real, heartfelt love will often involve setting some sort of boundaries (i.e. Kevin, don’t go near that fence; Adam, don’t eat the fruit from that tree or you’ll die). The overindulgent, saccharine kind of love that believes everything should be wrapped in a thick layer of syrupy sweetness and nothing should ever be remotely firm is one of the reasons so many are maladjusted.
When you see someone doing a lot (or too much), don’t just praise them – encourage them to consider how they might help others without overwhelming themselves in the process. There’s no need for that with a population of 7.8 billion! Let people carry their own load (Galatians 6:5). However, alleviate each other’s burdens (Galatians 6:2). Sometimes it takes discernment to differentiate between the two.
