Pearls and Pigs

Are you throwing your beautiful and precious pearls to the pigs?

Dee thought her latest relationship was great but now she is being ghosted. Sarah waited at the coffee shop for two hours, and wonders why her friend was flaking out. At a dinner party, friends notice that Kim’s fiancé keeps telling her to stop being so stupid. Ashley’s supervisor continues to make rude jokes when she is around. Jenny’s new friend makes all the decisions about where they go and what Jenny should do, even when they are not together.

When I hear about toxic relationships, I think about a verse in Matthew 7:6. It says, “Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.”

Put simply, “Do not throw your pearls before swine,” means “to give or offer something valuable to someone who does not understand its value.”

Some things to think about:

Do I give up on my opinions or boundaries when I am confronted or seeking approval from others?

Do I give myself to others too quickly and easily?

What time have I wasted trying to change someone who has no desire to change?

Why do I allow others to mistreat me?

Am I always on the giving end of a relationship and not receiving equal amounts in return?

Have I given so much of myself away that I only have broken pieces left?

Do I really see myself as something precious, holy, valuable?

Do I truly believe God completely accepts, loves, and cares for me?

Will I respect myself enough to walk away from dogs and pigs?

Keep your pearls around your neck, you beautiful, precious daughter of God. Don’t let anyone mistreat you. Choose to surround yourself with others who share your values and know that you are worth the wait and worth the effort!

For help in seeing the signs or coping with a toxic relationship, start with this helpful article by healthline.com.

“How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered!”Psalm 139:17

Psalm 139:17

“But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.”

1 Peter 2:9