Sinabi ng Diyos: “Magkaroon ng liwanag!” At nagkaroon nga. Nasiyahan ang Diyos nang ito’y mamasdan. Pinagbukod niya ang liwanag at ang dilim.

Genesis 1:3–4

When God created the world, He set boundaries for the good of His creation. Pinagbukod Niya ang liwanag at dilim, nilagyan ng hangganan ang kalupaan at katubigan, at maging sa Garden of Eden ipinag-utos Niya kay Adam at Eve kung hanggang saan ang boundary nila. Puwede nilang kainin ang lahat ng prutas except ‘yung from the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Since the beginning of time, the concept of boundaries has already existed. Kaya puwede tayong matuto sa wisdom ni God on how He set and upholds the principle of healthy boundaries.

If asked to picture what putting boundaries look like, anong maiisip mo? Naisip mo ba ang magtayo ng mataas na bakod? O di kaya naman ang mag-drawing ng linya para markahan ang teritoryo mo? Sometimes we think of boundaries as defenses that keep us from people and situations. But boundaries are not barriers. Ang mga tao sa paligid natin ay hindi natin kalaban. Binigyan tayo ng privilege to set our boundaries to be wise in growing our relationships with others. It is never meant to discriminate against anybody.

God set boundaries in His creation for His divine purpose, and to teach us who we are and who we are not. Setting healthy boundaries is about understanding who God calls us to be plus knowing when to lovingly say yes and no to people and circumstances that will come our way.

The boundaries in all of God’s creation are meant to bring good, love, and protection. Let us practice setting healthy boundaries coupled with love and respect.