By SheelaR

I had a great weekend.  My beloved Detroit Lions beat the Washington Redskins and I made another $100 bucks from betting on the game.  They are 2 and 1.  Not so bad considering their reputation.

Speaking of reputations…

One of my former ‘friends’ has quite the reputation for being a liar and I feel conflicted when people bring him up. A part of me wants to defend him as I have in the past, but we’re no longer friends and I don’t know what role, if any, that I should have.  Do I continue to defend the man I think he is or do I step away and continue to remain silent?  My heart wants to protect him and my mind says “not so fast.”

How do you define your role in someone’s life once you are no longer welcomed to it or have chosen to no longer be a part of it?  A simple disagree in philosophies’ can change so much, yet the affection you have for your friend is still there.  Although, I will admit… I don’t really think about him until someone else feels the need to bring it up.  I don’t want to have a hand in people getting hurt.  It is not a role I like having in other people’s lives. 

I’ve done my share of hurting and I don’t like it, and I’ve chosen not to be the kind of person to do it willfully. I know what it is like to be on the receiving end of malice and it is not a good place. However, if everyone’s’ else’s perception of my former ‘friend’ is that of liar, where does that leave me?  I’ve come to the conclusion that I will not defend him any longer, but I will not participate in any conversations about him or his perceived character.

We are not friends and it is not my battle to fight. Not because I don’t think he’s worthy, but because that is the role I shall reserve for the friends that reciprocate my love and support.