The work of life is simple.  It is to love God, and to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.  So there’s a lot of love there:  for God, for others, and for ourselves.  How are you doing at the work?  Are you in love with God every moment?  Are you caring for others every chance you get?  Are you taking care of yourself?  They all go together.  We often think that we can love ourselves and not God, or God and not others, or others and not ourselves.  But all that’s wrong.  Loving happens in triad.  They are all connected.

Remember when Jesus said to Peter,

Do you love me?…then feed my sheep.

Or when he said,

I want kindness, more than I want sacrifice.

And of course,

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.  This is the first and most important command.  And the second command is like the first:  ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  All the     law and the writings of the prophets depend on these two commands.

These things matter.  They are our work…our reason to get up every morning.  Some days it is hard to love others, and some days it is hard to love God, and some days it is hard to love ourselves.  Which is it for you?

Whichever area you are struggling with, I want to encourage you to keep working at the love.  Love God more.  Love others more.  Love yourself more.  Find a way to increase in the area you find the hardest to love.

God is with you.  I am praying and caring for you.  You are amazing!

Pastor Dottie