“Let all that you do be done in love.” – 1 Corinthians 16:14
It does not surprise me that in leading a life devoted to growing in virtues, I have deeply fallen in love with Mary’s Immaculate Heart. Today in adoration, I caught myself repeating the words, “Mary, help me love like you, help me love like your son,” as I stare in deep fulfillment of an image of Mama Mary embracing baby Jesus.
Through this moment, the Lord reminded me in my posture in loving God, loving others and in loving myself. I have the tendency to always ask myself, “Have I showed the Lord how much I love Him today?” But rarely do I ask myself, “Have I allowed the Lord to love me today?”
We cannot expect to love God and others, without loving ourselves. And we cannot expect ourselves to allow others to experience this genuine love from the Lord, when we too have not allowed ourselves to experience this love. And I feel like thats where I struggle the most. My stubbornness and resistance to vulnerability and compassion leads to an increase in sufferings and lack of acknowledgement in how loved I am by the Lord.
But its in finding humility in bringing these sufferings to the foot of the cross. And in realizing that it was never really about our capacity and limitations to give. Rather, our willingness to give of ourselves to the capacity that God has already given to us. The journey will be tiring at times, but its through the Lord sacrificial heart, is where we can draw our strength from. My brothers and sisters, let me tell you one thing, the mission is worth fighting for. Lets never tire in loving God, loving others and in loving ourselves. But most of all, lets allow the Lord to love us.
“I would create the world again just to hear you say you love me.” – Jesus to St. Teresa of Avila
Loving Father, help me run into your arms, not out of rushing the journey, but out of excitement for whats to come. Strengthen my heart so I can endure the obstacles and overcome the moments of fear and doubt. Ultimately help me to be able to love like You. Amen.
JMJ,
Diane Dimacali