EMBRACING FAMILY
I do not need a reminder that Valentine’s Day is approaching. Social media, advertising and stores have reminded us of that since Christmas. The ads are replete with the familiar chocolates, stuffed animals, and other gifts. Despite the commercialism of this holiday, love is the central theme. While it is beautiful to focus on those I love, it is equally important to concentrate on loving myself as created in the image and likeness of God.
Jesus said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39).
Why is it not enough to love others and be of service to them? Isn’t that good enough? It seems selfish to say that I need to love myself, too. Shouldn’t I focus on others?
No, focusing on loving others is not enough because God created ME in his image and likeness. If I cannot love myself as his son or daughter with all my strengths and weaknesses, and if I cannot extend mercy to myself for my shortcomings, I can never truly be able to love and be merciful to others. I can only share what I have.
When I look at myself in the mirror, who do I see? Someone who is profoundly happy, self-accepting, in love with God and eager to share him with others? Or do I notice someone who is sleep-deprived and in a rush to get the kids to school or go to work? Do I focus on physical imperfections when I look in the mirror? Or a combination of all of these?
Light is needed to see a reflection in a mirror. If I want to see myself in the image and likeness of God, then he needs to be my light source. When I allow God’s light to surround me and his love to envelop me, the reflection I will see in the mirror is a child of God, created in his image and likeness and is loved and forgiven by God. I can only imagine how transformed I would be if every day I asked God to surround me with his light, envelop me with his love, and, looking into the mirror, said, “I’m your child, God. I’m beautiful, and I’m created in your image and likeness. I want to reflect your light and love to everyone I meet today.”
So, this Valentine’s Day, as I think about those I love and make some cards, buy some chocolate, and let them know I love them, I will also stop and remember light switches and mirrors. May God’s light surround me, and God’s love envelop me so that when I look in the mirror, I see a beautiful child of God who is created in his image and likeness. Only then can I reflect God’s love for others and transform every day into a Valentine’s Day, a day of loving God, self and others.
Here is feedback from a reader in response to the Q&A from “Thank You, God, for all my family’s complaints (and mine, too)!”
“This was one of the best activities we have done as a family. My teens were shocked when I told them I wanted them to write down their complaints and hear them. They were suspicious of my intentions but eagerly complied and wanted to write more than three complaints! I told them they could write as many as they wanted. When we stopped to transform them into gratitude prayers, our dining room’s atmosphere changed. Our kids have brought it up several times since then. Thanks for encouraging us to complain and count our blessings!”
Questions? Please email Sarah and David at Success@EmbraceFamilyLearning.com. We would be honored to lift you up in prayer and respond.
