Proverbs 19:8 – He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good. (KJV)

Sometimes a little humour sends us into a deeper understanding of something else.

The other day an old verse came to me, which said:

I love myself
I think I'm grand.
I go to shows
and hold my hand.
I put my arm around my waist
and when I get fresh I slap my face.

As young teens, we used to hear it said in a sing-song manner when someone seemed to be particularly conceited. It was probably said without much thought, and while it seems to exude self-love, especially from a young person's point of view, it also could be seen as portraying someone with a very lonely life.

It did make me think deeper though, beyond the little sing-song rhyme of yesteryear.

We are told to do unto others as we would have them do unto us, and to love our neighbours as ourselves. To enable us to carry out that part of God's commandment to us, we must first learn to love ourselves — to accept ourselves — and in understanding how to do that, we must be prepared to change those things about ourselves that we do not find loveable.

So there really is a lesson in the little rhyme. We need to love ourselves first, but we also need to keep our selves "in check" and correct those things about us that are not so desirable. We can do this with the help of the Holy Spirit, who gives us the mind of Christ.

Prayer: May our daily walk with You teach us to like who we are, and change who we don't wish to be. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

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About the author:

Mary Daniel <marydee@shaw.ca>
Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
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