Dr. Alfred Adler, international psychiatrist, based
the following conclusions on a careful analysis of
thousands of patients: "The most important task
imposed by religion has always been, 'Love your
neighbor....' It is the individual who is not
interested in his fellow man who has the greatest
difficulties in life and provides the greatest injury
to others. It is from among such individuals that all
human failures spring."
True, Jesus did say that we were to love our neighbor
as we love our own self, but as somebody else said,
"Heaven help your neighbor if you hate yourself." If I
happen to hate myself, I will tend to project my
feelings of self-hatred onto my neighbor, and while I
may not hate him, I will find it difficult, if not
impossible, to love him. This is because I can only
love and accept others to the degree that I have
learned to love and accept
myself-
-in a healthy way
that is.
So, if we are to follow Jesus' example and admonition
to love our neighbor (all people), we need to resolve
our damaged and negative emotions that block or hinder
our loving ourselves so we can be free to love others.
While we are working towards that goal, we can
choose to do the loving thing to others even if we don't
fully feel that love yet. And what an impact we
Christians would make in our homes, places of
business, schools, cities and nation if every one of
us would make the commitment every day to love
our neighbor, mean it, and practice it. It's still
important to do right whether we feel like doing it
or not.
Let's pray that we will!
"Dear God, please help me to love
and accept myself as you love and accept me, and
please help me to love my neighbor (every life I
touch) and be as Christ to him/her today. Thank you
for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in
Jesus' name, amen."
A
special
thanks
to
Bro
Stu
for
use
of
his
writings
You
may email
or visit his web site
to thank him.
to
thank
him.
God
Bless
you
my
Brother.
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