While reflecting on Jesus’
teachings we must meditate on the concept of the healing qualities of love.
When we cultivate love we come closer to God and as a result grow deeper into
our own self-love. If we believe that God exists in all of us, as we love the
Lord our God with all our heart, we must also love ourselves with all our heart,
with all our soul, with all our mind, and with all our strength. Often we
struggle with internal judgement and self-guilt as a lack of self-love in the
expectation of perfection which is contradictory of love. Love is not perfect
or exclusive as every creation is worthy of love inherently. It is possible to
be imperfect and still loved by yourself, as we are continuously loved by God.
When Jesus’ wisdom says, "Forgive all iniquity," this forgiveness can be turned
inward as we are kind and gentle with ourselves and nurture self-esteem and
self-worth that is not boastful. The practice of love begins with the capacity
to receive what is good internally
and in the world; a daily practice of gratitude.
Jesus then points out that we are
to love our neighbors as ourselves. We are called to show God’s unceasing
love for all people, which enables us to more fully see God’s presence in the
world and we act out this love when we show acts of love on our campus and in
our community.
Fostering love internally has a
profound healing impact on ourselves, our family, our friends, our campus, our
community, the world, the universe and all that is in it. We must continue to
honor the love in ourselves and in God, who has powers beyond our
understanding.
As we move
throughout our days I hope we can love ourselves and our peers openly and
freely to create an environment of
well-being.
Natasha
Edwards, LMHC, NCC, CASAC
Director of
Student Health Services
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