Context: This blog came to me in a split second, when I was washing my face after getting up late. It was a few days after my hospital trip to London, and I was feeling drained, lonely and rather sorry for myself. God spoke to me so personally that I was nearly knocked off my feet:
The whole law can be summed up in this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’ (Galatians 5:14; NLT).
- Keep on offering your love to others, but don’t expect their love in return.
- Keep on listening to others, but don’t expect them to listen to you in return.
- Keep on taking an interest in other people’s news, but don’t expect them to show any interest in yours.
- Keep on showing your sympathy to those who suffer, but don’t expect their sympathy in return.
- Never try to elicit a caring response from those you think might ‘owe’ you some love in return. It won’t work, and the effort will only increase your sadness and loneliness.
- When you’re too drained to support others, stop trying. Wait until you have some energy to spare. Say nothing; do nothing; rest.
- Just keep on practicing Mother Theresa’s teaching on humility: “Accept being slighted, forgotten and disregarded” (reference below).
Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love (Ephesians 4:2; NLT).
Reference
Here is a link to my blog about Mother Theresa’s teaching on humility: https://wp.me/P45bCr-7Ew