I sometimes think to myself and even tell others, “I don’t like myself today!” I feel this way when I am irritated or out of patience with another or when even when I think unkind thoughts about others. Not liking myself is not the same as not loving myself.
Before Jesus told the story of the Good Samaritan, He asked the Pharisee, “What is written in the Law; how do you read it?” The Pharisee quoted the law and said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind—-and—LOVE your neighbor AS YOURSELF.” Luke 10:27.
Loving yourself is necessary before you can love others. This does not mean that you should have self-love that brings on conceit, nor does it mean that you will always like who you are at the moment.
But you must have respect for yourself so that you find time to nurture and develop the part of you that makes you special. A positive attitude toward self leads to a positive attitude toward others.
You may not like yourself today, but you must always love yourself through God’s eyes and then you can love others.
I’ll work on this, if you will. We will all be better as we pass this on to others.
Have a blessed day!
In Christian love,
Diane