In every relationship though there comes a point where you have to make a choice - push on or throw in the towel. There's no formula to know which choice is the right one, each is the right choice in some cases and the wrong choice in other cases.
Then there's pride and boy does pride influence that choice. On the one hand it's easy to fall into the trap that staying in the relationship is the right choice because there is so much that you can teach and give to the other person. We always see ourselves as the hero in our story but truth be told we're flawed heroes at best. While there might be something that we have to give to the other person, I would say there's much, much more that we need to learn from the other person.
So by that reasoning, we should applaud ourselves for picking someone so amazing that they have so much to teach and give us, right? Well, no. That gives all the credit to us and none of it to the other person for sticking around this long, let alone to God who truly deserves all the credit.
There is a fine line to walk in sticking in a relationship while avoiding the pitfalls of pride. But pride is a double tipped spear. Leaving also requires a balancing act to avoid pride's allure.
It's tempting to leave and tell ourselves that we would be wasting our time by staying. Yet that thought completely forgets that the other person is an image bearer of the King. Getting to know someone, investing in another human life is never a waste.
And the inverse of that is true as well - we are each worth getting to know because of Who created us. If we walk away from a relationship thinking that we're doing the other person a favor by not letting them waste their time on us that is a self deprecating pride even bit as deadly and poisonous as self inflating pride.
In all relationships we must daily throw out pride and strive for grace and humility - to love others as we love ourselves while valuing others and looking to their interests. That path in every relationship is narrower than a tight rope and every day we will fall off into the arms of pride and the hollowness of false humility.
All that to say if you think of it please pray for me to be humble, full of grace, and genuine in my relationships. I will be praying for you as well.