Accepting Love

(I know I've been rather absent recently. I can only make the excuse that my life is so boring that I'm having a hard time picking out any specific things to be grateful for. Take this offering instead. It's a little something I started musing over in church this morning.)

We talk all the time about being love. We concentrate on trying to open ourselves up to the good in life, to be grateful for things big and small. Those changes bring positive energy to our lives, and in turn, it becomes easier to practice being love. It’s a wonderful feeling. But today, I realized something. We’re busy being love and trying to give something positive to others, but what about us? What about all the love being directed towards us that we ignore?

Why is it so hard to accept love? We have parents, friends, boyfriends, family…they all love us. But why is it so hard to see that? Why is it that we can be love, but sometimes just can’t get it through our heads that we are, in turn, loved?

I know that what my parents do, they do out of love. Whenever I fight with my dad, I know a lot of his anger comes from a place of worry. And yet, I don’t feel loved in those moments. I feel hurt, angry, useless, and sometimes, overly righteous. I can’t accept that love that he’s giving in his own particular way. I take it as anything but love. Why do I do that? Even if I think he’s wrong sometimes, he’s coming from a place of love.

Do we reject love because we don’t feel we deserve it? Because we take it for granted? Is it a fear of opening ourselves up to being hurt far more than we otherwise would? I make no secret of expressing my love for friends and (usually) my parents, and yet when they reciprocate, it’s uncomfortable for me. I try and brush it off, usually making a joke or breezing past it like it’s never been brought up.

So why not try and open ourselves up to accepting love? I’m not saying we ignore trying to be love, because it’s a wonderful practice that makes an impact. But I say we also try and start noticing all the love being directed our way. Acknowledge those people who love you, and accept their love as if you feel you deserve it. Not in a righteous way, but knowing that you are worthy of being loved just as much as anyone else. We are beautiful, strong young women who deserve to be loved. And just think: If we can accept the love that’s being given to us and let it lift our spirits, imagine how much easier it will become to be love to others! We give love, get love, and then have more to give. It’s a cycle that can only make our lives more positive and filled with joy and gratitude.

So, I leave you with this:
Let those people into your life who will be love for you, and continue to be love for others.