You are only doing it half right.....

     Awhile ago I posted something similar on the heart board I belong to, but when the idea hit me, it seemed to make so much sense, that I want to post something like it here too.

     Being a Christian I am very aware of Matthew 22:39, "And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." But it can also be found in the Torah Leviticus 19:18, "Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: I am the Lord." I am pretty sure most of us, religious or not, try to live that out. You can find similar injunctions in almost any society. It is God given, universal and accepted almost everywhere people of goodness live together. 

     If you are like me, then you are probably even pretty good at that verse. We want our neighbors to succeed, we wish them the best and we are there for them if they need us. We are kind, we are forgiving and we are right in being that way. 

     However, one day it hit me, "What if we reversed the saying?" What if it read, "Love yourself as your neighbor."  I think most of us would be in for a rude awakening! This is not just an injunction to treat all mankind with respect and love, but ourselves also. 

     Let me ask you this and you can tell me if I am wrong. "Would you speak to other people the same way you speak to yourself? Would you be as unkind to them as you are towards you? Would you not forgive them for something when you will not/can not do that for yourself?"

     My friends, we are only doing this half right. 

     I know that words that run through my head when I think about myself and frankly if I heard another person speaking to a loved one of mine that way, I'm sorry to say, I would punch them right in the nose. (I'm Christian, not perfect) If I heard the words I used on myself, the condemnation, the belittlement, the loathing at times, I would not stand for it in public, yet for hours a day I think nothing of listening to those words in my head as if they were the real Gospel. 

     I have a feeling if I heard the words you use on yourself, it would make my heart break. You who have struggled so long, you who have fought alone, you who have only wanted someone to help, and then had to do it all alone. If your neighbor did all that you did, you would fill the air with praises and congratulations. Yet for yourself, someone who is doing it right now, is fighting hard right now, you have only negativity, scorn or derision.

     So today I want you fulfill that scripture if you are religious, I want you to live out that same moral code we hold society to if you are not. Seriously, please I want you to do this even though it's kind of weird, please please do this for me. I want you to think of what you would say to your neighbor if you found out they had the same circumstances as you do. IF they came to you and broke down and told you every problem in their life and it was just like yours, what would you say to them to give them comfort? Now please say the same thing to yourself. Say it out loud, say it often. Because my beautiful warriors, it is the truth, it is commanded, and you need to see the beauty of you, not just other people.

As always may God shelter you, protect you and draw you closer in good times and bad.

Frank

This is the beauty I saw a few days ago. I took two of my own pictures, the wolf and the moon and combined them, then added a space texture. It made me smile, I hope it does you too. As always thank you for letting me talk.