"He taught us to do good against ill: here may we see that He is Himself this charity, and doeth to us as He teacheth us to do. For He willeth that we be like Him in wholeness of endless love to ourself and to our even-Christians: no more than His love is broken to us for our sin, no more willeth He that our love be broken to ourself and to our even-Christians."
Julian of Norwich (Ch. 40)
He asks us to return good for evil because that is what He does. He is not blame and retaliation (law) but love and blessing (grace). His love keeps on flowing whether we do good things or do bad things. It just keeps on coming to us. It never changes. He looks not at our mistakes but at the beautiful and valuable child of God that we are. When we see how He loves and values us in all our messes, and that those messes make no difference in Hi loving us, we relax. We are cared for, known and understood. We are cherished, valued and blessed. And we are freed to love ourselves and others in the same way, because His love is flowing through us to all. There is beauty and value in every person we meet, including the one we meet in the mirror. We can gives ourselves and others grace because He always does! In every mistake we make, He is doing us good, loving on us, reminding us how beautiful we are!
"Never retaliate; instead, cultivate the attitude to anticipate only beauty and value in every person you encounter."
Romans 12:17 (MIRROR)
A Prayer: Thank You for seeing beauty in me even when I can't see it!