When Love Is Given… But Misinterpreted
Jan 22, 2026
When Love Is Given… but Misinterpreted
One of the most painful dynamics in life is not the absence of love—but the misinterpretation of it.
This often starts early. The way love was given to us didn’t always match the way we believed love should be received. Parents, fathers, mothers, caregivers—many did the best they could with what they had. Yet when love didn’t arrive in the form we expected, we labeled it as insufficient, cold, conditional, or even absent. What’s heartbreaking is that sometimes it was love… just delivered in a language we didn’t yet understand.
And right in the middle of that gap—between intention and interpretation—division sneaks in. God is always working to bring together, to heal, to restore. The enemy? Always content to distort, divide, and convince us we were shortchanged or rejected.
Lately, I’ve been realizing something about myself: I’m more sensitive to rejection than I thought. Derogatory looks. Corrections. Put-downs. Even neutral feedback can feel sharper than intended. For years, I assumed everyone experienced life this way.
Have you ever discovered something about yourself that you thought was “just normal”—only to realize later it wasn’t universal?
I remember growing up and being absolutely wrecked after cutting the grass. Sneezing nonstop. Eyes burning. Congested for hours. To me, that was just life. Everyone must feel like this, right? Then one day—Sudafed. And suddenly I realized: Oh… not everyone reacts this way. Truth changed my response to the stressor.
That’s how awareness works.
From “this is just how things are” to “wait… maybe there’s another explanation.”
Sometimes the breakthrough isn’t willpower—it’s awareness.
Growth starts with curiosity. That quiet nudge that says, Something feels a little off here. When we chase that feeling instead of ignoring it, we open the door to becoming healthier, freer, and more fully alive.
And here’s the key: this kind of clarity is incredibly hard to achieve alone. Having someone objective—someone outside your patterns, stories, and blind spots—can make all the difference.
That’s what I want to be for people.
If any part of this resonates, I’d love to talk. A discovery call may be the next right step.
Much Love,
Dave
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