I am busy preparing for Virtual Vacation Bible School - something I never thought I would write before two months ago! I will be leading forty children and youth online for a week through Bible stories, crafts, book readings, movement, and song. The teachings are familiar; the method is not.
The theme is compassion: for ourselves, our neighbor, and our world. As I prepare, I have been struck by the notion of "loving ourselves." I have preached and taught numerous times on the Greatest Commandment: love God and love neighbor. But the Vacation Bible School curriculum highlights a phrase I have often ignored: "as yourself."
When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had left the Sadducees speechless, they met together. One of them, a legal expert, tested Jesus. “Teacher, what is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: You must love your neighbor as you love yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.” (Matthew 22:34-40 CEB)
I remember one Sunday preaching this text in a previous congregation I served. An older gentleman, but a new Christian, came up to me after the service and said, "What I have really struggled with my whole life is loving myself. How can I love God and others when I'm not sure I even love myself? That's what I really want you to preach on!"
I was puzzled by Ralph's thoughts. I had never preached on loving ourselves. We were to love God and our neighbors. I know I didn't have an eloquent response as I didn't even fully understand what Ralph meant. Weren't we just supposed to love God and others? Our relationship with ourselves would come after.
And yet now I realize Ralph understood better than me: in order to fully and better love God and the people around us, we have to understand what it means to love and take care of ourselves. We have to fully see and accept ourselves as beloved children of God. I've heard it said before and now I truly believe it: we can only care for others when we first care for ourselves.
During the past few months of a new, COVID-19-induced routine, I have had to find ways to care for myself while caring for my children who seem to be constantly underfoot. I have had to prioritize reading a new novel, trying a new recipe, taking a walk by myself, and pausing for an extra minute in a warm shower. When I feel refreshed and remember to be kind to myself, I respond better to my family and community.
Later this month, I will speak to kids about loving themselves. I will ask them what that phrase means, and I know they will have good and surprising insight. I can't wait to learn from them.
Jesus' words were not spoken and added to the Bible superfluously. They are there for a reason. And if Jesus and the writer Matthew think we need to love God and our neighbors AND OURSELVES, then I guess we better get busy doing it! Like the abandoned building below edified with beautiful script, how we will reclaim this important teaching? What will you do today to love yourself?
Photo by Derick McKinney on Unsplash