LOVING MYSELF

One of the greatest lessons I am teaching my children is to love themselves - well!

So often we (present company included) can effortlessly encourage a friend who’s having a bad day and go home and become hyper-critical of ourselves. I am baffled how I can write books of affirmations and uplifting poetry books and still wrestle with loving myself WELL.

I am teaching my children to love their unique nature, embrace whom God created them to be, and speak positively to themselves. At one point I questioned if I would create children who are self-absorbed, lacking empathy towards others, and flat-out narcissistic. I realized loving ourselves in a healthy way does not create those outcomes. Loving ourselves makes it easier to love others, WELL. I don’t want to just “love” people, I want to “love them well.” I want them to experience all the love God has given to me through my interactions with them. That cannot happen unless I choose to love myself without exception.

Love your neighbor as yourself. Some people don’t love themselves and I’ve been on the back end of those relationships and to be frank they almost took me out.

Loving ourselves is not an option, it’s a priority (at least for me).

Loving myself in this season looks different and to be honest, I’m still figuring it out. However, I’m SERIOUS about loving myself. Why? Too much is at stake. I have people whom I love dearly who need me to be well-loved so I can pass it on to them. I need to love myself well so I can show up in this space as my authentic self. There are people I’ve yet to meet in places I’ve yet been who need to encounter me and YOU!

It was silly how I felt shame for allowing my children space to be well-loved. Even guilty at times. It’s a blessing to be loved, well. It’s a greater blessing to love others well!

“For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:14 NLT