Love Yourself . . . Love Others

I pray everyone's 4th of July was blessed and safe! It has been a busy week here in Florida! Yesterday Jay and I volunteered at Shell Point, a retirement community near Sanibel where my son-in-law is a property manager. They were putting on a USO show and we were scooping vanilla ice cream to go on top of apple pie for the residents. It was a full house (over 1,000 people I believe) and I can't tell you how wonderful it was to see so many proud Americans assembling, walkers and all. Just beautiful. So many lives and histories each have lived. Everyone has a story, right? We heard several as they held out their bowl of pie for a scoop of ice cream. A few mentioned fighting in WW11, a few in Viet Nam. I loved every minute. Oh, and of course, my grandson Colton was a big hit . . . he was laughing and grinning at just about anyone who said hello! As I reflect on yesterday, I realize how unique and different we all are, and yet similar looking through the eyes of Christ. He loves every one of us, despite our sins. He is Love. Just as we should be.

Todays Gospel (Matthew 9:9-13) teaches us to never judge and always love:

As Jesus passed by, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him. While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples. The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” He heard this and said, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, I desire mercy, not sacrifice. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”

In the Monthly Message from September 2011, Jesus asks us to love others, but first we must love ourselves:

"It is with joy that I speak with you today. When I contemplate your fidelity to My plan for mercy, I feel joy. When I contemplate your fidelity to holiness, I feel joy. Do not pause in your commitment to becoming holier. This calm movement into the Spirit of gentleness and kindness should help you to view others with compassion, yes, but also yourself. Do you view yourself with compassion? Do you offer kindness and mercy toward yourself when you contemplate your condition? My friends, My dearest friends, be careful to view yourself as I view you. Be careful not to view yourself in harsh light that seeks to condemn. If you are tempted against mercy for yourself, then truly, you are tempted against truth. Because it is only with mercy and love that I greet your present condition and your attempts to advance in holiness. I am love. I could hardly ask you to love others and then withhold love from you. That would be a flawed plan, destined to fail. My plan is perfect. I give you a receptive heart, you receive My love in abundance, and then stand for Heaven to be a well on earth which both stores and distributes love. Beloved apostle, search your heart today. If you do not find mercy and compassion for yourself in your heart, come to Me at once and ask Me to give these things to you. My plan for you and for the world will not advance as quickly as necessary if you do not accept your present condition and understand My perfect love for you. Your potential for holiness has not yet been fully achieved, of course, and I want you to advance. And I ask that you do so in confidence, joy and hope. Rejoice. I am with you."

Lay apostles, in the past, I have been harder on myself than any other human being has been on me. Over the past few years, I have learned I can only do my best. As long as I keep Christ as the focus, my best is all He needs. I am good enough. I am His child and I am doing my best to behave as He knows I am capable of behaving. Through His love for me, I can love myself, which in turn gives me the capacity to love others. 

Thank you, Lord, for loving me as much as You do. You have taught me to love myself, giving me the ability to love every person I am blessed to know. 

God bless,

Bonnie