This is Felicia Ferguson with Christian Mix 106, helping you Build Faith for the Journey.
Apron Strings. Chances are that phrase brings a host of visuals to mind. From the comforting image of a great-grandma standing in front of a wood burning stove to the frustrated eye roll of a grown man trapped by his mama’s iron rule over his life.
But did you know there’s another type of tie that can also comfort and trap? These are soul ties. Even if you’ve never heard of the concept, you have certainly experienced them. Soul ties are the emotional and spiritual bonds we share with other people: our parents and sibling
, our spouses or significant others, our children, and our friends. They can be healthy and they can be harmful. But it’s up to us the recognize the difference. Here’s how:
A healthy soul tie is filled with unconditional love and support. It is a safe harbor when the world is turned upside down. It’s like a warm, fuzzy blanket on a bitterly cold winter’s day. It fills your heart and soul with light and love. You feel safe with this person and can always trust them to have your best in mind.
But an unhealthy or harmful soul tie is that toxic relationship in your life. It may have formed from a shared childhood experience or your own desperate desire to avoid loneliness. But whatever the origin, whenever you’re with that person, you feel drained, irritable, and often obligated by guilt to maintain the relationship. It saps your heart and soul and then comes back for more. The only safety you might feel with it is the comfort of familiarity. It’s the devil you know.
So think about your own relationships. Who in your life offers a healthy soul tie? Who is an unhealthy one? Then focus on fostering the healthy ones and cutting or at least diminishing the harmful ones. Your heart, mind, and soul will thank you for it.
This is Felicia Ferguson. Thanks for listening to Christian Mix 106.
