Day 8

 “Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave. it’s flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the Lord.” 
Song of Solomon 8:6

Love is not jealous. (well, not envious ;) ) 
Those 6 words, “for love is strong as death”, have come to have new meaning in my life these last 6 years. 
Death may end the physical relationship here on earth.
But the love remains. 
Even though life moves forward, so must I - yet, the love remains.
Today’s dare for me to love me as God does: 
Taking the list of negative things about myself from yesterday, mark thru each one. 
Praying as I do so. 
Asking God for wisdom, for courage, and for peace, that I may do what I can, accept what I can’t. 
And simply love me as I am - faults, flaws and failures. 
Remembering that LOVE is an action. 
It’s a choice. 
Real love, true love, is not based in our emotions. 
Emotions will get involved in their own time and way.
But LOVE is a choice of will. 
I resolve this day to no longer compare myself to others. 
There will always be someone better ... and always be someone worse. 
That’s just the way life is. 
So accept it. 
And be envious of no one. 
Being envious of someone is choosing them over me. 
- choosing their hair over mine.
- choosing their body over mine.
- choosing whatever it is, over mine.
I need to get a strong hold on this - - I am worth choosing! 
I am worth being chosen! 
God, chose me. 
Knowing all my faults, flaws and failures, God chose me. 
Who am I to question or to argue with Him? 
I choose me, too, God.
Please, teach me Your ways to live this choice. 
I resolve that for every step forward I take, every breath of progress, I will rejoice and celebrate. 
Little by little - that’s how it’s done. 
I resolve to look for accomplishments in my life, and to give myself credit for making them. 
Lord, not to argue with You, nor to question You - but this is hard for me. 
It’s so much easier to do this towards others - just to accept them as they are. 
Me? Not so much. 
I want to be different.
I want to be better. 
And I can be. 
But it means wisdom, courage and determination. 
I need Your help God.
You love me - just as I am.
But You love me more - because You love me enough to change me. 
Please, help me to love myself ... more.
In Jesus’ Name I ask
Thank You God for understanding me completely.
I love You. 
Now, to love me.