08.08.08 Part 2

Yes - today is 8/8/08 - are you ready to begin a new life of love, patience and understanding? Oh, not just toward other people, but to yourself.

When was the last time you told youself that you loved you. Hmmm - yes, I sigh and pause to think.

Sometimes we are so busy trying to do God's will that we don't even realize that it begins with loving and treating yourself well. You didn't know that did you? You just thought that was some Oprah and Dr. Phil slang - give to yourself first, treat yourself with love, respect yourself...I could on and on. But read this...

Luke 12:30-31 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

Loving yourself or treating yourself with respect is vital to getting along with others. Most times we esteem people and honor them, but we fall short because we have not properly bestowed respect to ourselves.

We criticize, degrade, hurt and disrespect ourselves. Our self images are poor, we do not like what we see in the mirror, we're too fat or too skinny, too light or too dark. Where does it end?

If we treat ourselves like this - we can't help but treat others this way. We have little patience, no love, very little understanding and Lord help us if we have to keep a secret to ourselves for the sake of peace.

We need to begin at home. We need to look in the mirror and dismiss all the flaws we see and begin to love ourselves.

Let's start new today with a commitment to accept who God made you to be and treat yourself better. Love yourself - everything about yourself. Remember, you are fearfully and wonderfully made.