tradina waller

Below is a poem from Og Mandino,  who was one of the most best selling inspirational author of the 20th Century.  Mastin Kipp shared this poem with me on his blog and when I read it I said to myself, “I have to keep this one and share it with my readers.”  So, Here it is! I hope it speaks to you as much as it spoke to me.

“I will greet this day with love in my heart. And how will I do this? Henceforth will I look on all things with love and be born again. I will love the sun for it warms my bones; yet I will love the rain for it cleanses my spirit. I will love the light for it shows me the way; yet I will love the darkness for it shows me the stars. I will welcome happiness as it enlarges my heart; yet I will endure sadness for it opens my soul. I will acknowledge rewards for they are my due; yet I will welcome obstacles for they are my challenge.”

This poem reminds me that we all grow and mature through good and bad times.  The enjoyment of life can be found in our perception of how we view the situations we face.  It also reminds me of scripture, Ephesians 5:20 to be exact.  It reads: “giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  So today I encourage you to give thanks for all things for God is maturing you!

Women who allow themselves to be beat to a pulp by their spouse or significant other, state their reason for returning or remaining in an abusive relationship is that they love them.  Wanting or needing the abuser to change their ways is not relevant to the abused – only a warped sense of love is their focus.

No one knows more about love than the creator himself, so we must look to the Holy Scriptures to get a true understanding of what real love is.  In I John 4:8 it states that God is love, so to know what love truly is we must first get to know God.  Proverbs 9:10 reads, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.”  God gives humans the capacity to know him.  It is imperative that we start understanding love by getting to know God for only then can we get it right.

How does one have the proof that they love themselves correctly?  Proverbs 19:8 reads, “He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good.”  One who cares enough to educate themselves and gain wisdom for their own betterment loves their soul.  One who continues to walk in the knowledge that they have gained will live a good life.  A good life is what God wants for his children.  If that was not true, God would not have told us how to find good.

Another scripture that comes to mind is James 2:8, “Thou shalt love they neighbor as thyself.”  A key phrase here is “as thyself.”  One thing that abused women are missing is self-love and if they cannot love themselves how can they love another.  So, it becomes a vicious cycle.  You have two self-haters attempting to love one another.

This is twisted love.

-Tradina