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What does it mean to love your neighbour?

From Lisa-Dawn Johnston

I wish that there were emojis here to express how I feel! Because this message had me all up in my feelings, self-reflecting, asking questions, thinking of people who’ve hurt and angered me… thinking of those whom I’ve hurt and angered. Thinking of prickly people and my love for them…. Wave after wave of varying emotions with each different thought. Now tears. Because that emotional cost of loving everyone can high, with certain people…. Can open us to more hurt and rejection as you mentioned, and of course takes a toll, because we are mere humans. Loving prickly and difficult is easier I think, than loving those who have hurt us. Because when you “accept people as they are..” their prickliness etc isn’t personal…. We can accept that that’s just the way they are. And I too, wear them down with love (what a BEAUTIFUL concept and phrase because as we wear down the prickliness… we build up love!!) But with people whom we probably cared for and trusted, lowered our walls and let them in, then have been hurt… the thought of loving them…that feels worse IMO, and while with time I may forgive, it’s harder to love again… So I am a work in progress. Maybe I need to redefine what love is. Right now for me love is a verb… not just what you say, but what you do…. Show love, etc. Perhaps I need to learn to love passively and from a distance? This message resonated with me today and has given me food for thought…. Which I’m still chewing on. Definitely need to pray about this and ask for guidance. But the very fact that you’ve shared this commandment today is a gift. And a lovely reminder of what God asks of us. I prefer to choose love. Just have to work through all of the barriers to it in some cases. Thank you. 🙏🏾