Growing up we're taught that before we can receive a reward we must have completed something to deserve it. Before we could play outside we had to clean our room or wash the dishes. If we wanted to keep playing on a sports team we had to keep our grades up.. etc. I see more and more from people that they believe, in order to love someone, in order to be loved, they must learn to love themselves first. It's a good philosophy, no doubt. I think we're working on the wrong thing. Work on ourselves, that's great, but what needs to be worked on is how we love, what love is to us, what love is, and what love should look like. We can love someone like we love ourselves, but we can't expect that person to love you like that. Because they might love themselves differently. Love is a big, great thing but it's very simple. It's very general. It's not as intricate as we might feel or know how it might be. Let me lay it down...
"Love is, patient, love is kind, It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres" - 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
If we can know this, if we can practise it, we'll be just fine. Because no matter what state you are in, love will overcome that. We don't need to perfect ourselves to love or to be loved. Because whomever you choose to love and whomever chooses to love you will embrace your flaws, your imperfections, your failures, your weaknesses, your doubts... take you for what you are. Because that's who you are. That's why we say "I love YOU". - God is Love
