"We have been given the ability to love unconditionally just as the father loves us..."
Dear friends,
Welcome to the Café. Please make yourselves comfortable while I pour us our cups of coffee. The Café is back in business and no topic is off limit here. I want to hear from you, so please share your thoughts and let’s keep the conversations going.
Since my last post, a lot has happened in our world that is just so insane. Covid-19 is still taking lives, destroying economies and generally turning our whole lives upside down. We all collectively watched a man die at the hands of those we all look to for protection. We watched as he begged for his life, begged to be allowed to breathe; and even as onlookers joined in unsuccessfully pleading with his captors to spare him a breath, we all literally watched as he took his last breath. As I write this, the United States is still literally burning with anger and desperation brought on by years of discrimination and injustice that would deny a man his right to the gift of breath so freely given us by the father. Properties that have taken decades to build have been destroyed, businesses already struggling with the effects of Covid-19 have been destroyed or burnt down; and worse than that, lives have been lost and continue to be lost. When does this stop? Why does this not stop?
Jesus taught His disciples and indeed all of his followers a lot during his short earthly ministry and at the end of the day all of his teachings are encapsulated in just one word, “Love”. he said, every law and every prophecy, really everything in life come to this one word.
36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[a]38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[b]40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40
So, if we know this greatest commandment, then why is it so hard to love others, like we love ourselves. The answer I believe lies in how we love ourselves. To love someone else like you love yourself, you need to first love yourself; you cannot give what you do not possess. If you do not love yourself, you have no precedent for loving someone else. We throw the word love around so casually but when it gets really tough, we’re done. At the root of the matter is how we see ourselves. When we look in the mirror, who do we see? someone we love and are happy to see or do we just want to move on quickly and not have to look at that person again? When we look in the mirror and all we see are things we want to change, we project that on to people we meet and interact with even without knowing it. This is why we fixate on imperfections in people and highlighting the differences between them and us.
I have had to deal with “the woman in the mirror” to get to the root of a number of issues like self-esteem and contentment. I could never look at myself in the mirror without seeing something I wanted to change; if only my head wasn’t so big, if my lips weren’t so full, if I could be thinner and on and on it goes. It was only after i learned to love my big head, full lips, curves and other imperfections that I started to develop confidence in myself. Now, when I look at “the woman in the mirror”, I see a woman filled with passion for the causes God has called her to and though I am conscious of the fact that she is far from perfect, I am filled with love for that woman and so happy to see her every morning, afternoon and night. As I learned to love myself, it became easier to love others; just as I know my faults and accept and love me all the same, I am able to see my neighbour as the wonderful creation of God that they are and accept and love them like myself.
We live in a world that is so divided right now but all hope is not lost because we can turn things around. We have been given the ability to love unconditionally just as the father loves us. What is standing in your way today? There is a dying world desperate for the love of God and it is our duty to lead them there. So, whatever you do today, go to your bedroom, bathroom or closet and look at “the woman in the mirror”; look closely and thoroughly until you begin to appreciate that woman and learn to love her. Only then can we hope to love our neighbour one at a time. Only Love can save our world right now.
8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8
As usual, these are solely my views and opinions and it is okay if you do not agree with them, but I will like to hear your opinions, so write in and share with us. Please forward this to other women you know that might need a word from God, or need to share the word from God that they have, and encourage them to check this out. See you next time at the Café and God’s blessings as you enjoy your coffee.
Blessings, Kathryn