If you are like me, you thought commitment in relationships was the key.  I truly did until recently.  I love the way the urban dictionary defines commitment:

Commitment is what
Transforms the promise into reality.
It is the words that speak
Boldly of your intentions.
And the actions which speak
Louder than the words.
It is making the time
When there is none.
Coming through time
After time after time,
Year after year after year.
Commitment is the stuff
Character is made of;
The power to change
The face of things.
It is the daily triumph
Of integrity over skepticism.

What a powerful view of commitment!  Yet, there’s just one problem. If we are honest with ourselves each of us at some point in time has failed to hold up some aspect of a commitment.  Whether it was a legitimate distraction, an oversight, lack of resources or some other unexpected interruption, we all have failed to keep a commitment at one time or another.

If commitment in our relationships were key, then we’d always find ourselves disheartened and discontented when others we are in any type of relationship with fail to maintain their intent to give something, say something, be here, be there, etc.

So, what is key? Understanding and forgiveness-that’s the key!  It may seem easier to make your own assessment of the reason for the failed commitment.  I warn you with the word of God:

“Judge not and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven.” Luke 6:37.

Reality is unless we walk a mile in the shoes of someone else we will never fully know why things turned out the way that they did-why some things happened, why some things never happened.  But one thing is certainly for sure, if each of us will “commit our ways to the Lord, put our trust solely in Him, He will act on our behalf.” Psalms 37:5

This we can consistently rely on. This commitment is the key!