There are times when we hurt others not because we wanted to, but because we have failed to love ourselves first.
You must love your neighbor. This is something we know. But do we also remember that we must love ourselves as well?
In order to take care of other people, we must also know how to take good care of ourselves. We must allow love to grow within our own hearts, and with that love, we can be more capable of helping other people.
God has loved us so much, should we not love ourselves, too? God has offered us His forgiveness, must we go on refusing to forgive ourselves?
Let love be that seed that grows gently first upon your own heart. Take care of it, let it grow strong, and when it bears fruit, let it be as a fragrant flower blessing others with genuine concern and compassion.
“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” – Matthew 22:39, WEB
Check Jocelyn's books:
"Of Waves and Butterflies: Poems on Grief", "Mend My Broken Heart", "Questions to God", "To Love an Invisible God", "Defending My Catholic Faith", and more - click here.
(You may freely quote excerpts from this website as long as due credit is given to author Jocelyn Soriano and the website itakeoffthemask.com)