A blog that I read daily is by Jenny...it's called Cupcakes, Sprinkles, and other Happy Things. Check it out...it's on my side bar! She is the girl lead singer in the band Addison Road! Anyway, she has some really great posts...that really make me think! Here is some of her latest post...I skipped around to the parts that really was highlighted for me, with all that I have gone through these past several months.
1.28.10Therapy ThursdaysMy counselor told me a story about a little girl and a dog. The little girl lives next door to this very cute dog. She wants the dog to like her so everyday she goes to the fence and tries to talk to the dog and pet him. And everyday the dog barks and barks. Growls and growls. Chomps and chomps. He is a mean dog. He does not like her. He did not like her yesterday. He does not like her today. And if the world works the way it usually does, this dog is not going to like her tomorrow. And every morning she goes and sticks her fingers through that fence and every morning that mean dog is still very mean. One day the dog bites her fingers off. My counselor's response?"Jenny, that girl lost her fingers because she refused to acknowledge reality. It was her fault the dog bit her. It was her fault that she was hurt over and over again everyday. It was her responsibility to make a logical decision about that dog and she refused to do so. So she lost her fingers. The dog was innocent. That little girl was completely to blame for what happened to her because even though she knew the dog was mean, but she refused to accept that as reality.""Jenny you are that little girl."That means that in the story with the dog, the dog is not to blame; the girl is. The dog was consistent. The dog is being who the dog is...it's not her job, her right, or her Christian duty to make that dog nice. You cannot change the behavior of someone else. You cannot change the outcome of something or someone that is out of your control. Today I will look at the little dog and I will hurt because I want that little dog to love me so bad, but I know he will not. I know he will only hurt me. So today I will not walk over to him. Today I will protect myself. Today I will pour my energy and heart desires into something or someone else. Today I will let go of something I've wanted for so long, and it will hurt, I will mourn the loss of what could not be, but today I will not let the dog hurt me, because today I finally realize that HE WILL... 
Man, I can totally relate to this! Going through the things that Chris and I have gone through here recently, I can say that I have seen and been bit by these mean dogs in my life. Honestly, it's hard to swallow to know that I have been the one with these relationships that has put myself out there to be bitten. But you know what I am glad at the same time, because with learning the hard way to keeping my hands inside the fence...I have also learned the kinds of 'dogs' or relationships that I do want around me. Like I said, I...wait scratch that...WE have learned SO much! And like I read today in a book by John Piper; The Hidden Smile of God, "And God's design in it is that we do not lose heart, but trust Him that someone also will be strengthen by the fruit of ours. Behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face. We may see it in our lifetime, we may not. But the whole Bible is written, and all the swans are singing, to convince us that it is there, that we can and should "exult in our tribulations."
So...no more you mean dogs...I am DONE...and I am still standing!