“The ultimate lesson all of us have to learn is unconditional love, which includes not only others but ourselves as well.” – Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
Have you ever noticed how your personal definition of love can change throughout your life? I have noticed more clearly in the past few weeks that for me, love was something I had to earn; I never felt it was freely given. Last night I realized that if people truly loved me, it is not about the things I do for them, or the way I act or behave, it is about the person inside which was created in the likeness and image of Christ. I have realized that I cannot make anyone love me, even if I give all of me, some people will not be able to love me.
I have spent a lot of my life trying to earn love from people, however, I have also realized that when someone is standing in front of me waiting to give me exactly what I want, I look right past it. There are people continuing to love me, when I am upset, frustrated, feeling lonely and burnt out. There are people in front of me showing me in little ways that no matter what, they will be there, and I don’t have to earn their love. The challenge I have is that I have the sunglasses of “needing to earn love” on and I miss it. It was not until last night that I took the sunglasses off and saw the person standing right in front of me. I had to take the sunglasses off to see into the eyes of the other person, there in their eyes was love still pouring out, unconditionally. They were standing there quietly and patiently waiting for me realize. They were not making a spectacle or jumping up and down saying look at me; they were just standing there continuing to love me, waiting for me to realize it.
It reminds me of the Christ child that was born on Christmas day. He was brought into this world very humbly, he was overlooked; however the love He had for the world would soon be known. Love is not conditional, there is no, if you do __________, then I will love you. The love of the Christ child was not conditional and neither should mine or anyone else’s be. My equation of love has changed from ”if __________, then I will love you… it is now “I love like Christ because he first loved me, I am worthy of love and I am loved.”
What is your equation of love, do you have an if/then statement around love?
“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you” – John 15:12 NIV
Have a super day!!
Rebekah Chavez
e/d Chip Hart
Have you ever noticed how your personal definition of love can change throughout your life? I have noticed more clearly in the past few weeks that for me, love was something I had to earn; I never felt it was freely given. Last night I realized that if people truly loved me, it is not about the things I do for them, or the way I act or behave, it is about the person inside which was created in the likeness and image of Christ. I have realized that I cannot make anyone love me, even if I give all of me, some people will not be able to love me.
I have spent a lot of my life trying to earn love from people, however, I have also realized that when someone is standing in front of me waiting to give me exactly what I want, I look right past it. There are people continuing to love me, when I am upset, frustrated, feeling lonely and burnt out. There are people in front of me showing me in little ways that no matter what, they will be there, and I don’t have to earn their love. The challenge I have is that I have the sunglasses of “needing to earn love” on and I miss it. It was not until last night that I took the sunglasses off and saw the person standing right in front of me. I had to take the sunglasses off to see into the eyes of the other person, there in their eyes was love still pouring out, unconditionally. They were standing there quietly and patiently waiting for me realize. They were not making a spectacle or jumping up and down saying look at me; they were just standing there continuing to love me, waiting for me to realize it.
It reminds me of the Christ child that was born on Christmas day. He was brought into this world very humbly, he was overlooked; however the love He had for the world would soon be known. Love is not conditional, there is no, if you do __________, then I will love you. The love of the Christ child was not conditional and neither should mine or anyone else’s be. My equation of love has changed from ”if __________, then I will love you… it is now “I love like Christ because he first loved me, I am worthy of love and I am loved.”
What is your equation of love, do you have an if/then statement around love?
“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you” – John 15:12 NIV
Have a super day!!
Rebekah Chavez
e/d Chip Hart