Show Yourself Compassion

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. (Colossians 3:12)
 
Time and time again, the Scriptures commend those who in the middle of very imperfect situations have compassion for the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick, and the imprisoned (Matthew 25:34; Hebrews 10:34). But in order to show compassion to others, you must first learn to show compassion to yourself.  
 
Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” In other words, our capacity to lift, help, and bless others comes when we learn how to love ourselves. You will never extend compassion to others until you give yourself permission to love yourself and to show yourself grace.  
 
To the mom who struggles with her body image, don’t you worry about what someone else thinks about your body. Love yourself and the unique way God created you. To the dad who struggles with how much he makes, don’t value who you are by how much money you bring home. You are not your salary. To the teenager who feels like he or she isn’t a part of the in crowd, don’t be so preoccupied with fitting in with others. Instead, do something significant so others want to fit in with you.  
 
What keeps you from having compassion for yourself? Is it pride – the pride of not wanting to admit you have imperfections? Is it the fear of what other people will think if they see you don’t measure up? Is it the shame of being exposed under someone else’s judgment? No matter which scenario you find yourself in, now is the time to break free of that bondage. Show yourself compassion, grace, and love. It’s your only hope if you want to be able to love others well.