1 Corinthians 13 Verses 4,5,6,7 and 13
Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful: it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. So faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is LOVE.
Valentine's Day is the most significant day for chocolates, candied hearts, Hallmark cards, and floral bouquets. My question is this: would you send yourself such items of declarative love? If the answer is no, then why the hell not?
When I hear the Corinthians verse espouse love, I think of weddings. Heck, it was at my wedding. I have always understood this love to be given away. What if, just what if, this love was meant to be for ourselves to keep? It makes sense. Why is it so easy to send love outward to bear all things, not rejoicing in the wrong but cheering love on? Why must our love bear all things, believe, hope, and endure all things for someone or something else?
Let's try rewriting this from Corinthians; my apologies to Apostle Paul, who wrote this in a letter. I need to tweak it a bit.
I am patient and kind; I may partake in jealous and boastful ways, but I never intend to be arrogant or rude. I sometimes may insist on my way, possibly with irritability or resentment. I will always rejoice in the right but may get stuck rejoicing in the wrong. I will endure things, sometimes not all; I will believe in all (most) things, hope in all (most) things, and endure in all (most) things. I have faith in myself, hope in the person I am meant to be, and love abides by all these things, for love abides in me, for me.
For those who struggle with loving themselves, love declared within holy texts is meant for you. I know it is difficult as I am on the path to loving myself. It took falling apart to realize how precious life is and how my existence has a purpose. It took me this long to realize that love starts within. It's alright if you don't believe in a higher power, but know your place in this world was no accident. So, stop that argument in your head.
You are loved, even if you don't believe it. You matter, even if you don't feel it. Your life is sacred, even if you question it. You have the universe's light within you; dust from fractured meteors flows through you, and when your feet touch the ground, Mother Earth rejoices.
Now, go and buy yourself some flowers, get a meal from your favorite restaurant, and indulge in a decadent dessert. You fucking deserve the world dwelling within.
Nicely said.
So beautiful and true Elise!