Am I failing to be a good samaritan?

  • Thread starter Thread starter tovlo4801
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
T

tovlo4801

Guest
I’ve been struggling with a woman I know for several years now. I need some feedback on whether I am failing to serve her as Christ would have me serve her.

It might be difficult to explain the situation concisely, but I’ll try. At first I thought the woman was just a little quirky and I tried to be kind and even began to develop a friendship with her and our children developed friendships. However, as time went on I began to wonder if her quirkiness might actually be mental instability. I began to become aware of her manipulative behavior as I tried to discern why I was always an emotional wreck after spending time with her. At first I felt that I was obligated to continue to spend time with her to help her - as a good samaritan. But it became clear to me that I was not emotionally equipped to deal with her for my own reason’s and my family was suffering for the emotional toll spending time with her took on me. I determined to distance myself from her. I didn’t reach out to her and tried to avoid contact with her. I do however still care for her a great deal and I do pray for her frequently. I had reached peace with this approach. However a situation with our children has brought us into one-on-one contact again. It’s forced me to question again whether I’m morally right to be distancing myself from her. I don’t know how to emotionally deal with being in her presence, but I don’t know if it’s OK not to be when she might be mentally unstable and I’m not doing anything about it except praying. What are the opinions about how I should handle my relationship with this woman?
 
It sounds like you are torturing yourself. Forgive yourself and recognize that you are not a psychiatrist and are limited in what you can do. Continue to be charitable, do what you can for her, but you need not sacrifice your own family or your own emotional stability. You might consider discussing the specifics of this issue with a priest in confession. God bless.
 
Last time I checked Jesus was a co-dependant. Offer up some direction maybe free counseling services with a local agency if she is lower income or a therapist that a friend has used in the past. Just say "I wished I could help you, but I think you need to talk to someone that can give you better feedback. "
 
40.png
renee1258:
Last time I checked Jesus was a co-dependant.
Click to expand...
Just curious–What does this mean?:confused:
 
If being around her is damaging to you, and to your family, I think you’re right in distancing yourself from her. If you think she may be dangerous to others (i.e., a spouse, children), you may actually have a moral obligation to say something–either to her, to her spouse, or even to Child Services (and you should be able to do this anonymously). I’m with the others–try talking to your priest about this. You can give him the specifics that you can’t give us, and he may be able to give you better advice.

Keep praying for her regardless–and I’ll pray for you as well!
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top