A lesson on Love II
Love is in the forest.
Love is everywhere. You just have to look hard enough.Monday, February 28, 2011
Compassionately Caring
A lesson on Caring.
"How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye." Matthew 7:4-5 NLT
This verse is often mentioned when a someone is talking about more specifically about sin in your own life. Like if I was an alcoholic, I don't need to be getting on to someone with an alcohol problem or trying to help them through it. However, in recent days this verse has been the frosting to my most recent life lesson cake...
In the past few months I’ve been shown how it can hold true in another aspect of life. Caring. And needing to take care of yourself before you can take care of others.
This lesson has been most evident this past week.
For almost the past year I’ve been going through a bit of a mess myself. Pushing everyone away, falling into a pit of despair, thinking life was useless and wanting it to end. I didn’t care about anyone. The only thoughts on my mind were negative self-imposed thoughts. Yet…I still genuinely wanted to care about others, but didn’t understand why I couldn’t (which frustrated me even more!). It was about as fun as a root canal without anesthetics…not that I’ve had one and know. I’ve just heard.
The past couple months I’ve gotten help and gotten myself straightened out. I’m finally back to feeling like myself again. I'm happy, hopeful, and feel like I can take anything that comes my way. And this weekend I had an epiphany. There were a few individuals in my life who were genuinely on my mind all weekend, and I was genuinely concerned about their problems or things they were going through. I CARED! I REALLY CARED, REMEMBERED, AND THOUGHT OF THEM!!
It was so nice to have someone else on my mind insteead of attending the pity party in my head. (Yeah, it’s a party….but there definitely isn’t cake and ice cream!!)
It might not seem like a big deal, but it was a HUGE deal to me!
Then it dawned on me. {Insert Cheesy Music} The fact that I’ve been able to care lately is because I’ve taken care of myself. And I think that is so important. Just like the Word says. How can you help someone pull the speck out of their eye and care about them, when you are blinded by the huge log in your own eye?! You wouldn’t even be able to see it!!!
Even on airplanes, although it has never made sense to me and seems selfish, the flight attendants always instruct you in case of an emergency to put the oxygen mask on yourself first, before placing it on small children.
You have to take care of yourself. Before you can take care of others.
I’ve learned that even though I didn’t think I was capable, I am fully capable of caring, but I always have to make sure that I’m taken care of first.
"How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye." Matthew 7:4-5 NLT
This verse is often mentioned when a someone is talking about more specifically about sin in your own life. Like if I was an alcoholic, I don't need to be getting on to someone with an alcohol problem or trying to help them through it. However, in recent days this verse has been the frosting to my most recent life lesson cake...
In the past few months I’ve been shown how it can hold true in another aspect of life. Caring. And needing to take care of yourself before you can take care of others.
This lesson has been most evident this past week.
For almost the past year I’ve been going through a bit of a mess myself. Pushing everyone away, falling into a pit of despair, thinking life was useless and wanting it to end. I didn’t care about anyone. The only thoughts on my mind were negative self-imposed thoughts. Yet…I still genuinely wanted to care about others, but didn’t understand why I couldn’t (which frustrated me even more!). It was about as fun as a root canal without anesthetics…not that I’ve had one and know. I’ve just heard.
The past couple months I’ve gotten help and gotten myself straightened out. I’m finally back to feeling like myself again. I'm happy, hopeful, and feel like I can take anything that comes my way. And this weekend I had an epiphany. There were a few individuals in my life who were genuinely on my mind all weekend, and I was genuinely concerned about their problems or things they were going through. I CARED! I REALLY CARED, REMEMBERED, AND THOUGHT OF THEM!!
It was so nice to have someone else on my mind insteead of attending the pity party in my head. (Yeah, it’s a party….but there definitely isn’t cake and ice cream!!)
It might not seem like a big deal, but it was a HUGE deal to me!
Then it dawned on me. {Insert Cheesy Music} The fact that I’ve been able to care lately is because I’ve taken care of myself. And I think that is so important. Just like the Word says. How can you help someone pull the speck out of their eye and care about them, when you are blinded by the huge log in your own eye?! You wouldn’t even be able to see it!!!
Even on airplanes, although it has never made sense to me and seems selfish, the flight attendants always instruct you in case of an emergency to put the oxygen mask on yourself first, before placing it on small children.
You have to take care of yourself. Before you can take care of others.
I’ve learned that even though I didn’t think I was capable, I am fully capable of caring, but I always have to make sure that I’m taken care of first.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Love is nothing less than Lovely!
A lesson on LOVE.
A constant thought on my mind. In more ways than just the 'puppy love' you have for a boyfriend. Parental love. Sibling Love. Love for friends. Love from animals. Love for the unlovable. For the underdogs. Giving love. Receiving love. It's such a BROAD BROAD topic.
But of course...when people think of love they immediately think of love for a partner, that special someone, a boyfriend, a girlfriend, a husband, a wife, a crush, a Justin Bieber (I LOVE HIM!...no. Really. It's true Love!)
Love isn't guaranteed by all means. I definitely was not given the Love Punch card when I was born promising me perfect love from 10 people of my choice. And the other side of love is one of the most ugly things (in my opinion) a human can face. Heartbreak. The loss of Love.
Having my heart recently shattered (Disclaimer: I don't think it was love per say...but you get the idea). I understand. The hurt. The pain. (But there is a flip side! Losing 5-10 lbs because you can't eat! YES!!)
But this heartache. This loss of love rekindled a love that will burn much brighter than any love I will have the rest of my life. And for that I am thankful for my heartache.
You see, when I was born I DID get a Love Punch card! As did every other human being. A punch card that says if you decide to get this card punched you will receive the most amazing Love for the rest of your life and eternity. A love that surpasses all understanding. A Love that is Patient, Kind, Forgiving, Not Jealous or Proud. A Love that doesn't demand it's own way. Doesn't anger. Endures through every circumstance. (1Corinthians 13) A Love that no matter what you do will ALWAYS, ALWAYS ALWAYS take you back. That is always there and will never leave you.
And I am SO in LOVE with that Love of my Savior Jesus.
The love that came for me, suffered and died for me because He couldn't bear the thought of living without me. My heart breaks for the people that don't get it. Whose hearts are so closed to the idea.
In the midst of heartache, I'm so in love and on cloud 9. That's my Jesus. I got my card punched. It's good to know that forever and always I'll never be without Love. That I can always come back Home. That my mistakes are covered by his Love. That this Love will never change. That this Love is enough. (Good to Know- Francesca Battestelli)
Not just puppy Love, but Perfect Love. And that is beautiful. ♥
A constant thought on my mind. In more ways than just the 'puppy love' you have for a boyfriend. Parental love. Sibling Love. Love for friends. Love from animals. Love for the unlovable. For the underdogs. Giving love. Receiving love. It's such a BROAD BROAD topic.
But of course...when people think of love they immediately think of love for a partner, that special someone, a boyfriend, a girlfriend, a husband, a wife, a crush, a Justin Bieber (I LOVE HIM!...no. Really. It's true Love!)
Love isn't guaranteed by all means. I definitely was not given the Love Punch card when I was born promising me perfect love from 10 people of my choice. And the other side of love is one of the most ugly things (in my opinion) a human can face. Heartbreak. The loss of Love.
Having my heart recently shattered (Disclaimer: I don't think it was love per say...but you get the idea). I understand. The hurt. The pain. (But there is a flip side! Losing 5-10 lbs because you can't eat! YES!!)
But this heartache. This loss of love rekindled a love that will burn much brighter than any love I will have the rest of my life. And for that I am thankful for my heartache.
You see, when I was born I DID get a Love Punch card! As did every other human being. A punch card that says if you decide to get this card punched you will receive the most amazing Love for the rest of your life and eternity. A love that surpasses all understanding. A Love that is Patient, Kind, Forgiving, Not Jealous or Proud. A Love that doesn't demand it's own way. Doesn't anger. Endures through every circumstance. (1Corinthians 13) A Love that no matter what you do will ALWAYS, ALWAYS ALWAYS take you back. That is always there and will never leave you.
And I am SO in LOVE with that Love of my Savior Jesus.
The love that came for me, suffered and died for me because He couldn't bear the thought of living without me. My heart breaks for the people that don't get it. Whose hearts are so closed to the idea.
In the midst of heartache, I'm so in love and on cloud 9. That's my Jesus. I got my card punched. It's good to know that forever and always I'll never be without Love. That I can always come back Home. That my mistakes are covered by his Love. That this Love will never change. That this Love is enough. (Good to Know- Francesca Battestelli)
Not just puppy Love, but Perfect Love. And that is beautiful. ♥
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