What Are Your Life Obligations

08-24-2025

What Are Your Life Obligations?

I have been reminded on more than one occasion that everyone lives their life based on how they grew up, and many of our behaviors are tied to our parents. We mimic what we saw. We can’t help it, but we are influenced by this nonetheless. I do not think anyone is born generous; that is a learned behavior. Compassion is a little different, and I think it is more a part of our human DNA. Regardless, more people struggle with everyday life, and it is harder for them to keep their heads above water. As a result, trying to help someone else becomes less of a focus, if any focus at all.

Life’s List.

My life and upbringing have led to a seemingly endless stream of obligations. However, the word obligation, as formal as this word is, does not describe the intensity of the expectation or how I feel. This self-imposed standard is of my own making, and I have only myself to blame. Oh, it would be easy to cast the blame somewhere else, but that would not be entirely fair. Regardless, the feeling is still real and has bonded to me like cement.

God, My Wife and Family, Community.

In my opinion, this is the order in which things should flow. However, I know God tends to get the short end of the stick because I get in the way. I want to be selfish and do what I want to do, rather than asking God what He wants me to do or if it is one of those moments where I need to sit and learn more about Him.

My wife is my responsibility, as I made a covenant before God when we got married to love her as God loved the church. Again, I find myself getting in the way and thinking about myself more than staying focused on her needs. Likewise, trying to stay connected to family is always a challenge. Lastly, the community as a whole is about giving back, opening your eyes to the needs of others, and being willing to get your hands dirty. None of this is easy!

Amazed At Others’ Thoughts.

Having conversations with both friends and family has been eye-opening. There is simply no way to understand a person’s drive and motivation, or lack thereof, unless you have walked in their shoes and had their same experiences. It is easy and convenient for everyone to think their answer is the only correct one. Oftentimes, it seems completely and utterly illogical that anyone could see things any differently than we do. But life is not that simple. What is easy for you can be hard or even impossible for others, depending on the circumstances.

The Television Commercial

Daily, I see the same commercial admonishing the guy who does not have life insurance for his family. This also makes me remember having a conversation with someone who was married. The discussion came up about what would happen if they died first and how their wife would survive without having the extra income. He responded that she will figure it out, rather than saying, “I am going to buy life insurance so she does not have to worry about the bills.” Which is right, or are both answers correct?

Conclusions.

What Are Your Life Obligations is more than a simple list of things you need to check off. It has more to do with what you learned as you grew up and what you learned as you grew older. Not everyone feels a sense of obligation to others in the same degree and intensity that you might.  No judgment, just the facts.

If you have any questions or comments, please don't hesitate to contact me. Additionally, please explore the rest of my blog and website to see if any of this information can be helpful to you.

To learn more, visit the blog life, reflection, and faith.