AUTHENTIC LOVE

Matthew  ch19 verse 19 “  you shall love your neighbour as you love yourself ” Jesus from Bible

I have been pondering on this verse for a while . All the literature and messages based on this verse FOCUS on the neighbour and not on self. Why did Jesus say love your neighbour as YOURSELF? The most important message I derive from this famous verse is to first love yourself before you can love others. 

WHAT DOES LOVING YOURSELF MEAN ?

To me loving myself means taking good care of myself and being at peace  with myself .

Being grateful with what I have and counting my blessings – of  family, friends, job, work colleagues, freedom of choice and many other benefits that I enjoy in this country.

Practicing and enriching my life with loyalty, thoughtfulness, burden- sharing , speaking kind words and being generous.

Discovering the child within me , my enthusiasm , my passion and my hopes. Losing myself in the fun and freedom of play and laughter.

Celebrating the adult within me ------  my maturity, my compassion, my responsibility and my wisdom.

Being kind to my body by my diet and drinking style, my dressing style, my attitudinal style , my health and exercise style . 

Being nice to my body  and accepting it, for  it is the temple and shrine of my soul and spirit.   

Measuring myself and my success with my values , my family , my friends and my work ethics and not by my material possessions.

If I truly love myself as a person than I can love others as GOD wants me to.

PRAYER

Thank you dear GOD for creating the unique person that I am. Thank you for the special purpose you have ordained me for and my special place in this universe. Grant me grace to love myself so that I may love others.