HEAR ME OUT DEAR RUTHIE | SPONSORED BY UW CREDIT UNION
GROWING APART... FOR JESUS DEAR RUTHIE, We’re a group of 10 besties who do everything together; from dinner and drinks to movies and game nights. Recently, one of us has become a born-again Christian. We’re all supportive of our friend’s renewed interest in religion, but he’s gone overboard in our opinion. He only wants to talk about Jesus and seems hellbent on converting us. It’s to a point where we don’t want to be around him anymore. We hate to end this friendship but he’s not the same person. Should we cut ties with him? That seems harsh but we aren’t sure what to do anymore.
HELP US!
Fed-Up Fellow DEAR FELLOW, I’m not sure if you truly speak for your entire group of friends, but for purposes of this article, I’m going to assume you are. You’re correct in saying that it seems harsh to ghost your bestie because he’s taken an interest in religion. That said, people grow and change, and often that means growing apart as friends. Have one-on-one conversations with him, avoiding an intimidating group confrontation. Each of you talk to him calmly about individual concerns or annoyances with his recent behavior. When friends talk to him about why they need him to “cool it with the Jesus talk,” he may get the message and taper his conversations. He may also decide to move on with new friends who share his interests. Give him the option to make that decision for himself instead of making it for him.
XXOO
Ruthie
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