Love is a Person
“Every part of you is so beautiful, my darling. Perfect is your beauty, without flaw within. Now you are ready, my bride, to come with me as we climb the highest peaks together. Come with me through the archway of trust. We will look down from the crest of the glistening mounts and from the summit of our sublime sanctuary, from the lion’s den and the leopard’s lair.” Song of Songs 4:7-8 TPT
February 17th, 2025
📍Salida, Colorado, USA 🇺🇸
Greetings from the wilderness!
I’m a week into a digital detox that coincides with my candida cleanse. My body is asking for a lot of my attention right now, and my personal word for the year, “health,” is in full swing.
After moving around so much the last couple of months, it feels really good to be settled for a little bit. I’m back in Salida at the cabin, and I couldn’t be happier. As I write this, the snow is coming down heavily in fluffy white flakes, and I’m sitting next to a roaring fire thinking about you all. I feel truly blessed for this time back in the forest (for-rest)
My heart has felt heavy all week. The weight of life is a lot right now (for me and almost everyone else I know). My capacity is diminished, and I’m tired in every sense of the word. The somatic signals are all there, telling me to selah, to stop and listen for a bit—to slow down.
One of my latest paintings done for my niece, Mia.
So here we are. It feels good to prioritize my health and let Loto’s word for the year, “intention,” keep me focused. I’ve pared down some of my projects and commitments, and instead of posting pictures on social media, I’m soaking in the Lord’s love. I’ve been painting, reading, and listening to podcasts while I do my evening stretches—I’m even in the beginning stages of collaboration with a long-time friend of mine to develop a physical training regimen for me while I’m traveling (something that can be done in a small hotel room with minimal equipment).
Instead of self-abandoning (which I tend to do), I’m practicing self-care and showing up for my own needs so I can pour into others from abundance, not scarcity. This is what self-love looks like for me right now.
I truly believe that the greatest legacy we leave behind is how we demonstrate love for God, ourselves, and others. In Mark 12:30, Jesus tells us that the greatest commandment is to love God with all of our soul, mind, and strength (Love is the essence of the mind-body-spirit connection). So learning to demonstrate love begins with our ability to love (and be loved) by God.
The intimacy that Jesus wants with us is a two-sided relationship. He wants us to love Him, but He also wants us to receive His love. And from that love, He wants us to pour out that love into ourselves and others.
In verse 31, He tells us that the second greatest commandment is to love our neighbors as ourselves. It can be really hard to love others when we struggle with self-love. If our ability to love others is mirrored in the way we demonstrate love for God and ourselves, what does our love for others actually look like?
Does your self-love and self-care look more like self-condemnation and self-sabotage? Do you struggle with unworthiness and a lack of receptivity to God’s Love?
Would it surprise you to know that the same Jesus who died selflessly on the cross for our salvation also demonstrated self-care? Jesus clearly loves healthy boundaries. Nine times in the book of Luke, we are told that Jesus went away to be by himself, to rest. He didn’t isolate himself but regularly engaged in fellowship over meals with his closest friends and family. He knew how to balance all of His needs.
Nowhere in the Bible do we hear Jesus putting himself down or questioning his worth. We don’t see Him running away from trials or dimming His light in an effort to blend in or please people. He was authentically Himself, living out of the fullness of who God created Him to be, and actively demonstrated His love for God, himself, and others.
Remember, the Fruit of Love is a gift of the Spirit. We must first learn to love God and receive Love in return, and let that Love shape how we see ourselves. Then, we must pour out that Love from the abundance we have been given.
Love is powerful. It’s more than a feeling; it’s even more than a verb—Love is a person. And He wants an intimate relationship with you, to woo your heart and pull you in closer. It all starts with Jesus.
Ask Him to show you your beauty and value, then let Him romance you.
Let Him love you.
If you think about self-care as self-love (instead of selfish), all of these things we do to care for our minds, bodies, and souls are acts of love. Consider this your invitation to create a self-care practice that is rooted in God’s Love.
With Love,
Jennifer
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