seldom stopping to appreciate the love God has surrounded us with
in the form of every day beauty and certainly impeding our desire to
truly and deeply show our love for the Lord.
And loving others – the challenges involved! It is easy to love your
friends and family, but even so there are moments of downright un-
loving – the backseat driving, the cell phone at the dinner table, the
barking dog at midnight (and 1 am, 2 am, 3 am…).
Loving those outside our “circle” presents even greater tests. To
reach out and truly love that person who intentionally and maliciously
runs down the self-worth of others for personal gain; that person
battling mental illness and/or substance abuse; that political leader
who feels it is his right and even obligation to oppress and even kill
those who don’t share his beliefs. These are people Jesus com-
mands us to love.
It is only through God that we are able to truly love. It is only through
loving the Lord that we can love others as ourselves.
Prayer
Lift me up in your love, dear Lord. Fill my heart, my soul and my
mind with love for you. Fill my eyes with the loveliness in others, so
that I may see the goodness in them. Let me be ever mindful of the
eternal love you have for us, despite our unloveliness.
_______
Sherie Carroll
Lector