“I can’t love someone unless I know them” is a common statement in our society where some individuals feel they have to love those who they know will love them in return or give to those who they know can give to them in return. Luke 6:32-36 says, “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Love goes beyond attraction based on sexual desire or admiration, or maternal personal ties, but is also defined by Merriam-Webster as an unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another.
To be authentic is to be genuine. Are you reliable at being original? I encourage you to strive to become authentically you and understand that in loving others, it starts with loving God and yourself. 1 John 4:8 says, “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.”
Do you believe someone can only love you as much as they love themselves? In loving others, you should aim to show them the authentic version of yourself because this is also a part of displaying love. Mark 12:28-31 says, “One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.”
Whatever impression you give at your first interaction with someone most often will be the one remembered and by which they will respond to. Imagine you working so hard to display a lifestyle you know you are not really able to maintain; like purchasing lavished gifts, displaying good behaviors, or making exotic travels, but you do it anyway. The minute you are unable to maintain these expectations, you become a disappointment.
If you want to capture someone’s heart, show them the authentic version of yourself. You are one person , so stick with one version. It costs too much to live a lie.
Teena J McDonald
Have you ever noticed how children tend to withhold information from you? They tell you exactly what they want you to know in efforts to getting something special from you? I remember watching a ten-year-old boy tell his seven-year-old sister to give him three dollars. The sister declined, and the boy immediately said, ” You better give it to me, or else I will tell daddy what you did.” Don’t be fooled now, it is often a learned behavior which children have adopted from others in their environment. Some adults do this as well. They call it ‘holding that trump card,’ others call it deceit. What is your opinion on the matter? I believe it depends on the circumstance at hand. For instance, someone wants to blackmail you for something you know you did not do. They insist on twisting your arm, forcing you to act out of character. You need to act intelligent and use strategies to prove your innocence; even if that means seeking professional assistance from the authorities. Don’t play dirty, if you know that is not in your character. It will lead you to an open can of worms that will fester on your life and those you love. How often we witness homicides in society due to retaliation; you witness a female sleeping with her boss to gain promotion; a mother in a relationship with someone not because of love but in need of financial support; a mother or father stealing from society in hopes of supporting their family.
Why would anyone want to cause harm to an innocent person? Even acting out of anger to those who’ve done you wrong can become detrimental. Matthew 5:43- 45 says, “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”
It may seem difficult to act out of love when someone has wronged you. When you are authentic it is like standing naked before the world, and not ashamed in doing so. As they behold you; you live in truth without being distracted by their evil speakings and ill manner toward you. Continue to be true to yourself, doing what you know is the right thing to do. Live according to your purpose and integrity, instead of the expectations others have set for you. Display your best self; that one authentic version that represents you. You are unique, so allow your love to change the world.