loving (self)reflection
What message of love do you need to hear about God’s acceptance and joy in your being?
Psalm 80:6
You make us the scorn of our neighbors; our enemies laugh among themselves.
For a few months now, a recurring memory from 8th grade pops into my head from time to time. A group of popular kids started to eat lunch with me. It soon became apparent that they were doing so to make me the punchline of their jokes. I sat at that table every day for several weeks, enduring their teasing.
As an adult, I witness the younger version of me and hold him some. In this instance, I know he was absorbing their cruelty as if the world knew something about him and named him unlovable.
Do you hear that echoed in the Psalm? If ‘they’ say I am unlovable, what must God feel about me?
Bringing intention into painful memories, welcoming healing presence, and restoring the sites of rejection enable us to accompany our past selves at every age we have ever been.
What message of love do you need to hear about God’s acceptance and joy in your being? How can you accompany yourself in loving reflection today?
Perhaps the popular kids needed to protect each other from mutual tearing down? A courageous and very generous act to turn the other cheek for the benefit of others who needed far more help, and great preparation for the discipleship of loving God and neighbor, even when it's difficult.