Loving God first You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. —Psalm 63:1–3
W
e all know caregiving is about love. But sometimes it’s just impossible. How are we to love those we care for wholeheartedly when the relationships we have with them are so strained? How are we to love others selflessly when we ourselves are angry, frustrated, and tired? Let’s see what Jesus says about love. The greatest commandment, our Lord says, is to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all
16
your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). Then comes the second: “Love your neighbour as yourself ” (Matthew 22:39). This is the “double-love” command, on which our entire caregiving journey should be based. The order of the two commands indicates that our love for others must be the natural outflow of our love for God. Only by committing ourselves to our loving God are we then able to serve, love, forgive, and care for others.