I have been encouraged recently by a particular homeless woman who I'll call "Julie." In her tenacity and commitment to her goals, she has been reassuring me that she loves herself and will keep caring for herself.
Julie had been aiming to get some certain personal business squared away. She had been working on it in increments, at times enlisting the help of some of her friends.
In the last week, Julie finally finished the daunting task. After she had completed it, she and I exchanged high fives.
Although Julie has suffered from depression, she is rising up out of her despair. She has found that antidote to depression which productivity provides.
More significantly, she has started to value her own self, and so she has been making decisions which reflect her realization of her own self-worth. Appreciating herself, she acts accordingly, loving herself.
Loving herself, she can love her neighbor as herself,* just as Jesus taught us to do. Love is the fulfillment of ourselves and of others.
* Matthew 22:39; Mark 12:31; Luke 10:27; Leviticus 19:18; Romans 13:9; Galatians 5:14
Julie had been aiming to get some certain personal business squared away. She had been working on it in increments, at times enlisting the help of some of her friends.
In the last week, Julie finally finished the daunting task. After she had completed it, she and I exchanged high fives.
Although Julie has suffered from depression, she is rising up out of her despair. She has found that antidote to depression which productivity provides.
More significantly, she has started to value her own self, and so she has been making decisions which reflect her realization of her own self-worth. Appreciating herself, she acts accordingly, loving herself.
Loving herself, she can love her neighbor as herself,* just as Jesus taught us to do. Love is the fulfillment of ourselves and of others.
* Matthew 22:39; Mark 12:31; Luke 10:27; Leviticus 19:18; Romans 13:9; Galatians 5:14
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