Awakening

No matter where you are, above all else, you must love!

After a three-year-long bout of depression sprinkled with epilepsy, the aftermath feels like an awakening.
I have been free of seizure auras, depression, dizziness, and brain fog for ten weeks, and in the last two, I have begun the process of decluttering.
It started with my home, as I got rid of over a hundred pounds of stuff. Now I’ve moved on to my body and my finances, taking steps to live better all around.
But as I reflect on what I learned from all the health issues, I realize that there was a major cluttering, and then decluttering, of spirit.
I had to learn it the hard way, but the most important thing, the only thing that counts for anything in this life, is that you must love! When you feel good, it is so easy, so enlivening to help, and to give. I have always been a helper. I want to see people win. It makes my day to uplift others, and to see them happy.
But when your body is frail, your mind is defeated, and your soul is crushed, loving others may be the last thing on your mind. You may desperately still want to be that helper and giver, but there is no energy left.
You just want to get through, to stay afloat, to manage.
And if they knew how bad you felt, nobody would blame you for that mindset. But it is in this darkness, be it health, financial, or
circumstantial, that the soul receives its greatest opportunity for growth.
When we give from a place of plenty, that’s great.
But when we give from nothing, that is incredible!
I can see a parallel between an offering of love, with Luke 21:1-4 in the Bible. In those verses, Jesus witnesses people making offerings at a temple. There are rich people offering plenty, and then one widow, who offers two coins.
“3
And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:

4 For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.”

And so I think of love, and I realize that while grand gestures are fine, maybe the one that matters is the smallest one. Maybe the one that really makes the difference is when you are at your worst, not your best.
If you can speak a kind word in the midst of heartache, if you can make a statement of faith in the midst of chaos, if you can give when you have nothing, the effect will be profound. It may cause others who have more to give more. It may cause someone to reevaluate their own actions. It may cause someone to learn about Jesus!
If you can bring forth one pinpoint of light out of your darkness, others wil benefit, and your soul will blossom.
One smile, one “thank you”, one “have a good day” will be more than enough, if that’s all you can give.
It’s hard to evaluate my own success with this, because the last three years were such a muddle. But at least I can see the truth of it, and should the future bring me more health issues, I hope I will be a blessing for others, even in my own dark times.
It may sound trite, but I truly believe that’s all we’re here for, to love others. That is the purpose of our souls, whatever we may do to the contrary. In spite of how anyone acts toward you, if you love, you are better for it.
So I encourage you,
No matter where you are, above all else, you must love,
and be aware,
You are so . very much loved . in return.