Are You Friends With Yourself?

28 Jun

“If you make friends with yourself you will never be alone.”  ~ Maxwell Maltz

There is a serious problem with humanity: many people have never learned to like themselves.  They would never consider the possibility of making friends with themselves.  They spend too much of their time trying to be someone else.

They would have a very hard time obeying the second great commandment: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  Perhaps that is why the world is in such sad shape.  How can people love their neighbors if they do not love themselves?

It is crucial to love oneself and to help others love themselves as well.  Unfortunately, it seems to be easier to make people dislike themselves than it is to encourage them to love themselves. With a quick, critical tongue a parent or teacher can set a child against himself or herself.  With a callous word or attitude, young people can bully one of their own into self-hatred.

It takes years and years to undo those critical moments that cause someone to engage in self-loathing.  You might be one of those people who have been hurt by others in your life.  You might be one of those people who refrain from looking in mirrors because you do not like what you see.  You might be one of those people who do not accept thanks or praise because you feel that you are just not worth it.

Guess again.  Think again.  Consider again.  Look again.

God loves you.  Yes, it is as simple as that.  God loves you as you are.  He created you and made you special and unique.  There is no one like you anywhere in the world.  You are an original, a masterpiece, a great piece of God’s creation.  Please, try to love yourself as God loves you.

FAITH ACTION:  Do something special for yourself today.