Love your neighbor as yourself (Luke 10:27; NLT; my emphasis).
At last (aged 73), I am starting to grasp a little more that it’s okay:
- To look how I look, to think my own thoughts, and to feel how I feel.
- To be as I am, physically, mentally, neurologically, emotionally, intellectually and spiritually.
- To be honest with myself, God, and everyone I come into contact with, whilst always trying to do so without being hurtful.
- To make mistakes, to get things wrong, and to forget things.
- To make my own choices, to have my own opinions, and to change my mind.
- To change my behaviour.
- To be assertive.
- To offer help, and for my help to be refused.
- To ask for help, to accept offered help, and to refuse offered help.
- To grow as a person.
- To continue my spiritual development.
- To age, and to decline in physical strength, energy, health, and mental sharpness.
In short: It’s okay to be myself.
Very slowly and cautiously, I’m beginning to feel as if I no longer need to apologise for my existence, because God made me just as I am, and loves me just as I am. So maybe I can even begin to love myself just as I am, as well!
My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life (John 10:10; NLT).
References
Speak the truth with love (Ephesians 4:15; NLT).
He loves us with unfailing love; the LORD’s faithfulness endures forever (Psalm 117:2; NLT).
The Father himself loves you (John 16:27; NIV).