Sometimes we've done things that cause us to wonder how we can ever forgive ourselves. Perhaps we've hurt someone we love or disappointed people we respect by behaving in a way we deeply regret. Maybe we've said some unkind thing to someone and caused them terrible hurt and embarrassment. We are so horrified by our behavior that we want to crawl under a rock. How can we ever forgive ourselves? We've been able to ask their forgiveness, but forgiving ourselves is quite another matter.
When Christ gave us the great commandment He told us that we must love God above all things, and we must love our neighbor as ourselves. The ability to love others is in direct correlation to our love of God and self. If we hate ourselves, how can we begin to love God and neighbor?
Loving ourselves must begin with learning to forgive ourselves.The measure of love is to fulfill Christ's commandment to love others as yourself. Therefore you must love yourself (as well as others), in respect to "If you love Me you will keep My commandments (John 14:15)."
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
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