Loving My Neighbor as Myself

Last week I wrote about my lightbulb moment when I realized that I needed to love myself and that meant not accepting rejection from ‘her’.

That moment came during a time of anger at myself and others over messy relationships. I was beating myself up for what I saw as failures on my part in relationships. I felt like I never said or did the right things at the right time. I was calling myself names like stupid, not-loyal, inconsiderate and worse.

Then I read where Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

So in order to love others, I had to first love me? How I loved or did not love myself would affect my relationships with others?

And the surprising thing is … that’s how it works. If I call myself names, I’m quicker to call others names. If I put myself down, I’ll put others down. If I hate myself, I hate others.

And if I accept myself for who I’m — flaws and all, I’m quicker to accept others for who they are. If I respect my journey so far, instead of beating myself up for what I did or didn’t say/do/think/believe — I’m more likely to respect others.

I reread some Biblical descriptions about love. The words are so familiar, I skimmed over them as I read them … “Love is patient, love is kind. It is not proud.”

But what does love is kind really mean?

If I give money to a mission/person to go to another country to help others and/or tell others about God’s love, but I say unkind things about that same people/religious/cultural group in my own country … am I being kind?

What do you think … what does “loving your neighbors as yourself” mean to you?