When Honor Hurts: Defining Love & Holding Boundaries (Part Two)

In the second half of this honest conversation, Kristina and I go deeper into the definition of unconditional love, the realities of trauma, and how to set godly boundaries with parents who’ve caused harm. Kristina asks me to reflect on what I hope my children learn about honor, and together they wrestle with what healing looks like through the lens of grace, not guilt.

Topics we explore in Part Two:

• Defining unconditional love and how upbringing shapes it

• Scriptural examples of Jesus interacting with his parents

• When pleasing parents conflicts with honoring God

• Practical boundaries for adult children navigating painful dynamics

• Forgiveness when there is no repentance

• Moving toward healing without dismissing harm

Scripture References in Part Two:

• John 2:1–11 — The wedding at Cana

• Luke 2:41–50 — Jesus at the temple

• Mark 3:20–35 — “Who are my mother and brothers?”

• 2 Timothy 3:1–5 — Avoiding abusive or unloving people

• Luke 17:3–4 — Forgiveness, even when it's hard

• Ephesians 6:4 — Parents not provoking children

• Philippians 4:8 — Meditating on the good (reiterated)

If you’ve ever wondered how to love someone without losing yourself or how to forgive without enabling, part two offers wisdom, hope, and real tools for walking the hard road with your faith intact.