Learning to Love Yourself

Every summer since childhood I’ve attended a local county fair that comes to our community. Although many of the attractions are virtually the same from year to year, I love to walk down the midway, snacking on gastronomical delights that I’d never dream of eating on a regular basis. From Tasty Chips to fried avocado (isn’t everything better when deep-fried?), I turn into a full-on foodie at the fair.

Yet there is one part of this summertime event that I’ve never liked: the funhouses which are tucked back with the carnival rides. There’s something strange about them, including the odd-shaped mirrors that make people look tweaked, twisted, and sometimes completely deformed. And after hours of indulging in fair food, I certainly don’t want to see my wide-angled reflection!

To me, there is nothing “fun” about the funhouse-but if I was completely honest, how many times do I view myself in a contorted fashion instead of thinking about how my heavenly Father sees me? The answer is way too many times throughout my daily life. Perhaps you can relate to this scenario too. Most of us find it easier to focus on our flaws than on the fact that we’re the fabulous creations of an amazing Designer. From wrinkles to weight gain to woes about our choices, we find many aspects of our lives that we think are unattractive or downright ugly.

This viewpoint must change if we truly want to experience the perfect love that the Lord has planned for us this side of Heaven. In Luke 10, Jesus clearly points out that we must learn to love God, and then our neighbors as ourselves. Actually, He emphatically concludes His thoughts with this statement: “Do this and you will live!” (verse 28). To love God’s way means we must honor His creation-and this includes how we embrace who He has made us to be. *

*Taken from Sonkist Ministries’ upcoming release, I Choose Love!

Thought of the Month