The secret to loving others
I was out cycling when I saw a church marque with the tag line:
“Loving God. Loving Others.”
This confused me.
The scripture quoted on the sign comes from an incident where a scholar tests Jesus by asking, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus responds, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Did you notice the part missing from the church sign?
If you can’t be kind, compassionate, and loving to yourself, where will you find the kindness, compassion, and love for others?
As a young man, I believed the harsh and self-critical voice in my head.
I didn’t like who I was and was scared that if people really knew me, they wouldn’t either.
Then, I began listening to another voice. This one was gentle and encouraging.
I learned to talk differently to myself, forgive myself, and ultimately, love myself.
Over time, I started to heal.
Here’s the secret to loving God and others more fully: begin loving yourself.
It’s never too late and there’s no other way.