LOVE MONTH: DAY 8: “Do not be dismayed by the brokenness of the world. All things break. And all things can be mended. Not with time, as they say, but with intention. So go. Love intentionally, extravagantly, unconditionally. The broken world waits in darkness for the light that is you.” – L. R. Knost
We are all fairly-well trained in conditional love. We love according to what is familiar to us, what is appealing to us, what we are comfortable with. When we learn to step outside of those parameters and love what makes us uncomfortable, what makes us unhappy, those things that frighten us, and what is unappealing to us, we are really practicing a new form of love, one that has the amazing power to heal.
Healing is not only ours, but the object of our love is healed as well. That is real love.
My family taught me what they thought love was, so for much of my life, I loved the way they taught me. That was violent, neglectful, insecure and harming. I believed those who loved me were supposed to have violent reactions to me and what I did or said. And I gravitated toward those kinds of people. We are all taught to love what is familiar when we are children.
I remember those people who were kind to me as a young child, because my spirit was hungry for that. I needed the “light” of kindness and appreciation, rather than scorn, neglect and abuse.
I am not angry or resentful about these things in my life. They did what was taught to them. Today, I have recovery and the knowledge of the world around me that we are all doing what we can as we go through our days. But, as I learn better, I need to BE better. I must learn to be a different kind of person. So, I no longer believe in the kind of love I once did. I have been loved and loving to kind people, gentle spirits with whom I have had great love and peace.
I have brought light to others and have taught about healthier ways of loving. Why is that my path? Because I understand brokenness on a deeper level than many folks. I can see this dynamic at work in my life. It is the full circle of healing I came here to experience and walk.
I long for a peaceful world. I long for healing for those who have been badly broken and desperate in their lives. I will not stop working for those things for others, nor will I stop teaching them where and when I can.
I can honestly say that we all get to teach those things that we most need to learn. My path is to teach unconditional love and work for each of us to heal. There is no greater thing for me to do. I am not going to be Mother Theresa or even anyone like that. I have too many frailties and personal failings to ever be “good”. That is not even a goal for me.
But I do want others to feel those things I have felt in this healing journey. The joy of walking through pain and fear to the other side of healing.
Dolphin Hug 