It is not how much we do, but how much love we put in the doing.
It is not how much we give, but how much love we put in the giving.
It is not how much we give, but how much love we put in the giving.
I always have a very hard time with this concept: even if I think I'm
doing something with love as my major motivation, am I really? It's very
easy to do things because we want them to turn out as we think they should, or
because we'll benefit in some way from what's done. Even in giving, it's
easy to fall into the trap of giving because it makes us feel good rather than
giving because we truly want to show love to the recipients.
So what criteria can we use to know that we're actually doing or giving
something out of love? How can we examine our motives to figure out just
why we're doing what we're doing? And what motives are those inspired by
love?
I think that in the end, it's a question of our thoughts being solely on the
needs of the recipient. It's important that we keep in mind the fact that
the recipients of our actions have definite needs, and if it's within our power
to meet those needs to a certain degree--without thinking a bit of the effect
of our actions on ourselves--then we may just be putting love into what we
do. And if we can shift our mindset to always be focused on the needs of
others, then it becomes a simple fact that all that we do and give is a result
of love.
We all know people who claim to do things for others, but who are motivated
more by self-interest than by the desire to help or by love. And if we
think that we don't want to be like them, then it's important that we remain
clear about our own motives and actions, so that we can continue to act and give
out of love, which is the purest form of motivation of all.
* * * * *
Questions to consider:
* * * * *
Questions to consider:
What does it mean to you to do something with love?
How do other motivating factors work their ways into the things that we do for and give to others?
How might you keep your focus strongly on love when you're doing what you're doing in your life?
* * * * *
For further thought:
How do other motivating factors work their ways into the things that we do for and give to others?
How might you keep your focus strongly on love when you're doing what you're doing in your life?
* * * * *
For further thought:
You can give without loving, but
you cannot love without giving.
you cannot love without giving.
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