Be Good to Yourself

Posted on September 12, 2019 by America's Keswick in Victory Call

“Okay, everyone, gather in for a selfie! 3… 2… 1!”

Flash! Your friend takes a picture and everyone in your group gathers around the phone to see how it came out.

You scan over the picture and grimace. Everyone else looks fine, but all you can see is your yellow teeth, double chin, or messy hair. After a couple of minutes of going back and forth in your head, you clear your throat and everyone turns to you.

“Can you delete that?” You ask shyly. “I look so big in that picture and I need you to take it from a higher angle.”

Does that scenario sound familiar? It sure is déjà vu to me! Here’s another one:

You’re at your table doing your taxes and – oops! You spill your coffee … all over your W4 forms! You get up and grab some napkins, trying to salvage your papers and all the while, you’re whispering to yourself “I’m such an idiot! Why couldn’t I just move the coffee? Why am I so irresponsible? Stupid, stupid, stupid!”

My grandfather had a phrase that he always said, ‘Be good to yourself.’ Why is it that we are often so mean to ourselves, when we would never treat others that way? If it was our husband, wife, or friend who spilled coffee all over some papers, would we harshly put them down? If we thought that a friend didn’t look so good in a picture, would we start insulting them? Of course we wouldn’t! We would encourage them, be kind to them, and we would be loving towards them.

We all know that Scripture tells us to love one another. A great example is Mark 12:31, which tells us to ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ That means to have agape love toward others, but it also tells us that we should be gentle, kind, and softhearted to ourselves. If we truly treated each and every person like we treat ourselves, would we be seen as kind or cruel individuals?

We are accepted by Christ (Romans 15:7), free from condemnation (Romans 8:1), valuable to God (Matthew 6:26), and loved by God (Romans 86:5). If we are cherished by Christ, who regards us as precious, why is it that we can so easily treat ourselves as if we are detestable?

We all know the Golden Rule, ‘Treat others the way you want to be treated.’ Maybe we should also treat ourselves the way we want others to be treated.

Just something to think about today!

With Love,

Erin

Written by Erin Culleny. Erin Culleny serves as a Marketing Assistant and Staff Writer. She loves encouraging women through her Victory Calls and finds such joy in praying for her sisters in Christ. Her favorite activities include reading her Bible, encouraging others with scripture, buying new makeup, buying dresses, and eating at the Cheesecake Factory… In that order!

Think About This: Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless. – Mother Teresa

The Daily Bible Reading: Judges 13-15, John 5:1-24| You can download our 2019 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! – Psalm 139:17

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the doctrinal and theological views held by America’s Keswick.

Want to get away & have dedicated time to read & learn God’s Word?

Consider a retreat at America’s Keswick retreat center.

LEARN MORE

Recent Posts

Archives

Categories