Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: In and Out (04/30/09)
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TITLE: Love Must Flow | Previous Challenge Entry
By Mia DeBruyne
05/06/09 -
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Imagine a pail filled with holes in the bottom. We are the pail and each of the holes is an area of service in our lives in which we allow our life’s energy and love to flow out of us and onto others. There are three different faucets pouring love into us and filling our pail so we can continue to give to others according to our calling.
The main source of our love is Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He pours His love into us when we are willing to receive Him through prayer. Often times it might take some time to feel the fullness of His Spirit within us when our pails are empty and full of holes, but His love is always there.
Another source of love is from our neighbors. They will never be able to love us as completely and perfectly as God can, but it is God’s will that we humbly accept the love that others are willing to offer us. If we proudly refuse to acknowledge our needs and reject the love available to us through others, our pails will forever feel drained. God intended us to love and to be loved.
The last source of love is through oneself. We are called to love both our neighbors as ourselves. To love oneself fully we must care for our body and soul as it is the temple of the Holy Spirit. We must do our best, with God’s grace to eat well, exercise, sleep well, affirm ourselves, and enjoy the simple pleasures of life - like the beauty of a spring flower.
If we continue to allow our pails to be filled by all the faucets that God offers us as sources of His love, we will then be overflowing with love and able to shower others through the holes in the bottom of our pail. No longer will we live in fear that we will run out of love to give, for perfect love casts out all fear.
1 John 4:18 NIV “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”
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I wonder where 'family' fits into this picture?
Excellent use of the topic words.