lovingwell

In a season that celebrates giving and connection, the blog post delves into the profound impact of being remembered and cherished. It reflects on the intimate sense of being truly seen and known, attributing this profound understanding to your Creator, God. The message reassures that God never forgets us, holding us close with unwavering faithfulness, reminding readers of His constant presence and nurturing love.

Drawing from the imagery of the Last Supper, the article portrays Jesus's intimate moment with His disciples, illustrating the depth of His promise and love. The narrative invites reflection on the shared relationship with God, characterized by mutual remembrance and deep affection. It challenges readers to consider their personal connection and response to God's love, prompting a heartfelt promise of devotion and gratitude.

The reflection concludes with a call to action, encouraging individuals to demonstrate their remembrance and gratitude towards God in everyday life. It invokes a sense of companionship with the divine, reinforcing that this mutual remembrance is a cherished gift. Ultimately, the blog post is a meditation on love and spiritual intimacy, urging readers to embrace and acknowledge their own sacred relationship with God.

The foundation of personal wellness is deeply rooted in our ability to truly love—spanning across every facet of our being including our physical, emotional, spiritual, relational, and financial health. The progression of love, as described by Bernard of Clairvaux and explored further in modern discussions of emotional health, outlines stages ranging from an inward focus on self-love to a mature, outward-focused love that sees beyond our own needs. This journey through the degrees of love begins with loving ourselves for our own sake, evolving into loving God and others for their sake, and ultimately, loving ourselves because of our relationship with God.

As we mature emotionally and spiritually, we encounter a pivotal shift from focusing solely on our own desires to discovering a profound sense of love and delight in God's presence. This evolution allows us to view ourselves and others through a lens of compassion, forgiveness, and unconditional love. The concept of becoming "cross-contaminated" with God’s love illustrates a transformative process that not only heals us but enables us to reflect that love onto others, fostering a deeper connection with the divine and those around us.

Embracing this journey of love leads to a life marked by genuine relationships, compassionate understanding, and a dedicated pursuit of wellness in alignment with God's original design for us. By committing to love well, we open ourselves to the possibility of impacting the world in meaningful ways, supported by a community of individuals on the same path towards spiritual and emotional health. This pursuit begins with introspection and a willingness to grow, guided by resources that nurture our development into the full expression of love as intended by our Heavenly Father.

Embarking on a journey to love well encompasses a multi-dimensional approach to wellness, touching on physical, emotional, spiritual, relational, and financial health. It's a call to examine how fully and thoroughly we're able to love not only ourselves but also the broader world around us. By considering our progression in love as a measure of our overall wellness, we're invited to reflect on our ability to fill ourselves with love to the brim, allowing it to overflow into every aspect of our lives and health.

Bernard of Clairvaux, a twelfth-century thinker, elaborated on the idea that love evolves through four degrees, starting from a self-centered love towards an expansive love that encompasses God, oneself, and others within God's design. This journey from an "emotional infancy," focused solely on our desires and needs, to an "emotional adult," capable of seeing oneself through God’s eyes and overflowing with compassion for others, illustrates a profound transition in understanding and living love. This process not only changes our relationship with ourselves and with God but also inherently transforms our interactions with the world.

The realization that loving well transcends a simple acknowledgment of others and moves towards becoming active participants, or "co-conspirators," with God in the world showcases a transformative life mission rooted in love. This level of love, nurtured by a deep understanding and connection with the divine, empowers individuals to see beyond the impacts of sin and towards God’s original design. It's a heartfelt invitation to heal, to forgive, and to passionately spread this infectious love to others, ultimately participating with God in changing the world. This journey begins with a commitment to delve deeply into the essence of loving well, embracing both self-compassion and the compassionate understanding of others through the lens of divine love.