My nephew is one of the best people I know. My favorite things about him
- HUGS-he is by far the best hugger out there. He never is the one to break the hug. He holds on thightly and is intentional about it. When you've been hugged by Tyler-YOU KNOW IT
- GENUINE-he is real and deep and real. He's going to be honest and straight forward and he will expect the same in return
- FUN-he laughs freely and is always game to do something fun
- GAY....
Let's talk about that one a little deeper. Being gay is one part of him. It's part of the whole.
When he was a teenager and started realizing her was different from other boys his age, he thought something was wrong with him. As time wore on, he realized he had same sex attraction. He dealth with all the usual questions.
- Am I bad the way I am?
- Do I have to change and be like all the other guys I know?
- How does this one part about me fit into my religion?
- ...and many others
These questions led to a lot of really dark years where Tyler felt really alone and even at times suicidal. Tyler is definitley not alone in these feelings!!
Responses that really helped:
- A compassionate and listening ear
- unconditional love
- Those who just listened to him
- Those who asked genuine and judgement free questions
Responses that didn't help:
- Providing literature about those who supressed their feelings of gayness
- judgement
- "I love you ANYWAY" the last word was all he heard and screamed of judgement at the time
Valuable resources:
- National Suicide Hotline
- Listen, Learn and Love podcast and book by Richard Ostler
- Love Boldly by Becky Mackintosh
- That We May Be One by Tom Christofferson
- Trevor Project
- Mama Dragons Group
Please consider the first and second great commandments-Love God and Love Your Neighbor. What if our greatest task in life is to learn to love uncondtionally without judgement? What if we could see each person and love them as completely as God does?
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