Loving Others: 3 Simple Reminders For Loving Those Around Us

In a world that often feels chaotic and divided, it is very easy to bury our heads and focus only on ourselves; However, when we do that we miss out on so much! God calls us to love others in Matthew 22:37-40-

37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Now I know there's a good chance you read that and thought, "I am not loving myself well, so there's no way I can love others". There is absolute truth in the saying, "You can't pour from an empty cup", but I think we overthink this "loving others" part sometimes! We often believe this means we have to start a nonprofit organization, volunteer every week, or donate large sums of money to "Love Others"! These are fabulous things (!!), but loving others can be something as simple as looking someone in the eye at the grocery store and SMILING! We underestimate the power of kindness and when we show others kindness, we are showing them God.

Today, I want to share some simple things that we can do to show others love. Loving others and what that can look like in the simplest form! Ideas that won't take a lot of time or money, but can make a big impact on others and how those around us view Christians. Full disclosure... these aren't Earth shattering ideas! Just simple/gentle reminders... 1. Practice acts of kindness: Small gestures of kindness (holding a door open or allowing someone to go ahead of you!) can have a big impact on someone else's day. Whether it's offering a helping hand, giving a compliment, or simply listening to someone in need, these acts of kindness can spread love, positivity, and are 100% FREE!

2. Be intentional with your words: Words have the power to uplift or tear down. Choose to use your words to encourage, inspire, and affirm others. Speak love and positivity into the lives of those around you. Again...FREE! 3. Foster a spirit of gratitude: Cultivate a grateful heart and express gratitude for the blessings in your life. Gratitude not only brings joy and contentment but also helps you appreciate and love others more deeply. I'm a big believer in handwritten thank you notes, but even a quick text to thank a friend is better than nothing! When was the last time you sent a text to a friend simply thanking them for being a friend!? By spreading love and positivity we can create a more compassionate and connected world. Let us celebrate love and inspire others with our kindness. Have you shown others love and kindness lately?

Leave your favorite way to do so in the comments below!