Expectancy or expectation

I just recently read a book titled "The Shack" by William P. Young. The book was about another man's experience with God. It is very interesting, but maybe a little hard to grasp all that he is trying to say to us. However, one part of the book really hit home to me, it made sense to me.
The part of the book was about friendship and the relationship you have with another person. He used to words similar yet different, expectancy and expectation. I will quote his words and then put my spin on it.



"If you and I are friends, there is an expectancy that exists within our relationship. When we see each other or are apart,there is expectancy of being together, of laughing and talking. That expectancy has no concrete definition; it is alive and dynamic and everything that emerges form our being togehther is a unique gift shared by no one else. But what happens if I change that 'expectancy' to an 'expectation'-spoken or unspoken? Suddenly, law has entered into our relationship. Your are now expected to perform in a way that meets my expectations. our living friendship rapidly deteriorates into a dead thing with rules and requirements. It is no longer about you and me, but about what friends are supposed to do or the responsibilities of a good friend."

I love this, I love that someone else wrote it down. It has always bothered me that people, friends, but mostly family put expectations on your relationship with them. They expect you to do this or that, they place rules on relationships. In my opinion this is wrong. We should enjoy the times we have together and appreciate them. Everyone has their own lives and activities and are unable to make every event. People, relatives and friends should be happy for the times they are together and don't fret about the times they can't be together. I notice this more with family. I think that over the years too many rules or expectations are put into the family relationships and people get upset when those expectations are not met. In my opinion, it's the family unit that should be more accepting and less expecting. With the rules and expectations, it is difficult to enjoy the relationship and the expectancy of fun and laughter when together.

Just think about this, are you guilty of expectations? Don't you want to live in a life of expectancy or of hope, and not be limited by rules of relationships.