Sunday is the day I share a little of my soul. Enjoy.
This scripture has been in my mind all week. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, this is the first and great commandment.
“And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” [Matthew 22:37–40.]
How can one love their neighbor if they don't love themselves in any way? If the thoughts you speak and the words you say about yourself are horrible, negative and degrading...how can you love others? How can one teach their children to love others with a perfect love? It's a fine line. I'm not saying I'm perfect at loving myself and having charity toward my own shortcomings all the time. I've gotten better at it since a friend brought to my attention that I wasn't being humble by being self-degrading. In fact, it was the worst form of pride. It was literally tearing down one of God's crowning achievements when I spoke ill of myself. I am not only his creation, but also His Daughter. When I speak ill of myself, I speak ill of the one who made me. That's not cool. Humility is not self hate. It's acknowledging total reliance on God for all that you have and are. As for loving my neighbor...
Why does it I seem that I have an easier time forgiving the weakness and shortcomings of others than I do my own. The Lord included "thyself" in that second great commandment. Thou shalt love thy neighbor...as thyself. Think on that. I will as well. Charity for myself as well as my brothers and sisters. My great joy this week is, that despite how perfectly imperfect I know I am, the Lord loves me anyway. That gives me the will to have charity for the imperfections and weaknesses in myself. It gives me the will to walk forward and take a new step in my life. It gives me the will to say, " I will try harder this week." That's all I think the Lord asks. This week... I'm loving myself a little more. Not in an egocentric weird way...but as a daughter of a King recognizing her place in His kingdom. How can I fail knowing that I am His? I cannot. How can I fail to love my brothers and sisters knowing who they really are? I cannot.
There it is. What are your thoughts on loving thy neighbor as thyself?
A friend shared this song with me...and it fit perfectly with today.
A friend shared this song with me...and it fit perfectly with today.
Always My Very Best,
Your Friend Chef Tess
One of the HARDEST things ever......to love ourselves!!!! That IS a constant struggle not to treat myself as a door mat....quite often looking in the morning mirror I'll say GOOD MORNING SWAMP WITCH!!! It would probably be a good thing to just smile at myself...maybe I need to write myself a note and stick on the mirror...YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD and He LOVES YOU! Great post...GREAT reminder!!! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteSassy I hear you. I have to remember every day that the mirror is a reflection of a child of God. I'm His light and I am beautiful. I heard a song this week that said, "In your blinding beauty, you remind everyone who your maker must be...where your kingdom must be..."It's our job to walk in this world like the princesses that we are. Not self-righteous, but appreciating the king who holds a place for us in His kingdom on high. Right?
ReplyDeleteHow beautifully put…… perfect timing as I’m teaching the Relief Society lesson today. Loving and forgiving ourselves is sometimes the hardest to do, we show tender mercies for others and often forget our selves.
ReplyDeleteRenee
Renee...I'm teaching the lesson as well. Isn't that amazing how the Lord can make something pop out?
ReplyDeleteLove your information and love the spirit that you share, you are doing a wonderful job. Thank you for sharing your passions.
ReplyDeleteRenee
But, Dear Steph, do you not realize that by loving your neighbor that you are showing the Lord that you love yourself enough to give of yourself? Sometimes, also, we find love for ourselves in serving our neighbors. I have found that in serving others, I have found worth in myself. It's the circle of Love that makes humanity "human".
ReplyDelete* Remember these 2 things...
1. Do not spend all your time looking at the front of others' tapestries while only looking at the back of your own(but we see the front of yours and because of our own backs, we appreciate the back of yours also)...
2.Some of the most beautiful works of art are made from layering colors; we don't see every brushstroke.
Yes I totally agree Shellee. It's hard to give service without finding love, for we love the ones we serve. That circle of love is amazing. It reflects into our hearts the love from those we serve who yes, see our best. It builds us that way. I love how you put that. Most of all, I love you my friend. Thank you for standing by me all these years.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I agree.
ReplyDeleteYou've stood by me as well, I love you back! You are part of my circle.
ReplyDelete