What Love Is Not - Love Is Not Self-Seeking

_Being appreciative and putting other people's needs in front of our own...is that so difficult?  Actually for some people it is something they just can't seem to do. 

Most of us are familiar with the word selfish, but do we really know the ramifications of being a selfish person?  I can remember as my children were growing up... there was always that selfish kid that was so irritating.  "Nana nana boo boo!"  Remember that?  They would get what they wanted and then try to rub it in by singing that little phrase.  What happened?  The more the selfish kid got his way and sang that song, the more the other kids would not want to be around him.   Selfish kids grow up to be selfish adults if they are not taught differently.  How does that end up?  Being a selfish, self-seeking person...pushes other people away from you and eventually to a life of loneliness.

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_To live out the Godly type of love in our lives, we have to give folks the benefit of the doubt...allow them to have shortcomings.  When you are lifting someone up, you are not forcing them to be what "you" want, you are recognizing their strengths and not manipulating them to be something they are not.  You are not interested in just you (being selfish- self centered) - you actually have a real interest in other folks.  Try it - try listening ...really listening to other people instead of pretending to listen, and all the while thinking about what you are wanting to say about you.

Don't be the type of person that has to have his/her own way, but instead be one who follows the One who has given us the best example of love.  He loved us so much...He was never self seeking, but self giving.  We should follow this example so we can draw others to this type of love.

Love is not self-seeking.

Thanks,
Paula

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