Don’t take old friends and family for granted
“No prophet is accepted in his hometown.”
— Luke 4:24 (NIV)
By Annettee Budzban
If you have you become comfortable in your marriage, friendship, job or some other area of your life to the point of being discontent and even disrespectful, it could be you have become too complacent or familiar with your circumstances.
The popular saying “familiarity breeds contempt” means that when we become so familiar and comfortable with a situation, it can cause dissatisfaction and disillusionment.
In the beginning of any relationship, such as marriage or a new job, we start out excited. Our passion is high in our new situation, so we excrete the endorphin and dopamine chemicals that make us feel good.
We were created this way so we would connect and be adventurous and discover the new things emerging in our life.
But then something occurs over time, the spouse or job become familiar, comfortable, and we start feeling complacent. We start taking things for granted. We don’t have the emotional high to support our feelings we once experienced. The little things we once ignored become annoying to us, then we start complaining.
This scenario is considered contempt — otherwise known as disrespect. At times, there are legitimate concerns within a job or relationship. However, the common nagging and complaining we become accustomed to tears down our ability to see the true worth and value in who or what we have.
Jesus experienced this with the people in his household and hometown. They didn’t believe in or see his greatness or the prophetic gift he possessed. It was outside his hometown where people weren’t as familiar with him that the miraculous things took place.
The excitement of a new thing can also arouse our desire to impulse buy. We buy a car or home or something else due to our strong desire to have it. Then, when it’s time to make monthly payments, we don’t appreciate our purchase as much as we once did.
Siblings rival with each other due to becoming familiar with their family members. People get locked into bad relationships because they judge by their feelings instead of the truth.
Oftentimes, we’re quick to get rid of an old, trusted friend when someone new and exciting comes along. When I was a young girl I learned a motto, “Make new friends but keep the old, one is silver the other gold.”
Our old tried and true friends, family and opportunities should not be easily brushed aside when a new prospect comes along. I have found the old tried and true to be worth their weight in gold.
The key to battling familiarity is learning to enjoy the comfort and beauty of stability. We trade the passionate high for sedentary comfort, and grow to understand something seemingly comfortable, stable and steady can offer contentment rather than contempt.
Ÿ Annettee Budzban is a Christian author, speaker, life coach and nurse. She can be contacted at Annetteebudzban@aol.com