“The greatest happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved; loved for ourselves, or rather, loved in spite of ourselves.” Victor Hugo
Happy Monday!
I hope you had a lovely weekend and are ready for the coming week!
Today, my thoughts are permeated with the ideas of love and acceptance. It’s our fundamental nature to love and desire to be loved. I’m not necessarily talking about the aggrandized romantic love of novels and movies, although those images are enchanting and the stuff of dreams. I’m thinking more about the reality of love. The kind that upholds truth, embraces the entirety of our personalities, and guards against defamation. This type of admiration is filled with the ability to compromise, find agreeable solutions, and advocate for the dignity of others’ lives.
It might be the love of family members who we hope will experience an understanding that we care for them without hesitation and with acceptance. Often, these people are friends who have navigated the various seasons of our lives and whom we deeply value. Then, there are our spouses and significant others we prefer and with whom we purpose to build and enjoy life together.
One vital element to remember is that loving well ultimately involves completely accepting the people we care about despite their imperfections. We also hope to be loved in the same way, in spite of our flaws. Loving can be a tall order, even in the best of circumstances.
I came across a thought attributed to Victor Hugo, regarded as one of the most prominent French writers, and I appreciate the sentiment:
I would be remiss if I didn’t address the topic of self-love. It can sometimes be a tightrope walk as we balance the tension between the actual loving of self and the temptation to become prideful or haughty. Self-love is represented well in Hugo’s words when he refers to loving ourselves in spite of ourselves. That means we take an honest look at the various components of our character or personality, accept the agreeable aspects that align with our values, and work to change the elements that require adjustment. Sometimes, we need to know and uphold our truths despite adversity. Again, loving can be a tall order, especially when it’s about loving ourselves.
In Scripture, there are many references to loving, and here are a couple of them:
“For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes, And I have walked [faithfully] in Your truth.” Psalm 26:3 (AMP)
“How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore, the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings.” Psalm 36:7 (NKJV)
Loving others and ourselves involves faithfulness, kindness, and truth. It also requires tolerance, grace, and mercy. It’s how we perceive a person (or ourselves) and how that relationship grows and can withstand honesty and sincerity.
This week, let’s purpose to examine our relationships with others and ourselves. Look to see if we’re honoring our convictions to loving well. And let’s be sure we’re giving our all to the effort of embracing ourselves and one another in spite of our perceptions. I’m confident that relationships will change for the better!
Be Well & Be Blessed!
Lucinda
