Hello, Beloved Reader! I’m Faith. Thanks for visiting me today. 

So, here I am again, breaking things down the way I understand them. I don’t know everything, and I don ‘t have all the answers, but here’s what I think.

In the blog “Love Is Sacrifice,” I went over defining love and its attributes. But now I’m going to continue this thought and bring in two more subjects, selfishness and self care.

It is my understanding that the world runs on two very simple concepts, love and selfishness.

If you think about it, love is the sacrifice you give, just like God gave of Himself.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” — John 3:16

Love is giving of yourself, and selfishness is taking for yourself. satan is a prime example of selfishness.

“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.” — Isaiah 14:12-15

So, to be like Christ we must give of ourselves to others. But here’s something to think about: Can you give too much of yourself?

That’s where the third subject, self care, comes into play. Google gives the definition of self care, “the practice of taking action to preserve or improve one’s own health.” You see, this is the balance between love and selfishness. And even though it may seem like you’re being selfish to take time for yourself, it’s really helping you to help others.

Let’s face it, we’re all human. We all get angry, sad, upset, beat down, and discouraged. We can’t help everyone all the time, because we ourselves need help too. An angry person who meets another angry person won’t bring them out of anger, but each fuels the other and both rage together.

So take some time for yourself. Let yourself grow in God. Read His Word, talk to Him, ask Him to help you. Make sure your heart is as right as it can be. It’s okay, it’s good even to do things that make you happy (as long as they are pure things).

Remember the acronym of J.O.Y. Jesus first, others second, and yourself last. Don’t neglect Jesus, don’t neglect others. But don’t forget: Don’t neglect yourself.

–Faith Cross