Real Life Enrichment
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otch...@yahoo.com
Sep 13, 2005, 2:14:08 PM9/13/05
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Where Do We Start To Influence Others?
Someone has said, "You are sought after if you reflect love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."
Living is a process of learning and growing from the lessons we learn. One lesson worth learning early is that life gives back to us what we give to it. Paul's formula will help us give our best to the world and in the process gain friends and influence the world around us.
Each quality Paul mentions carries with it its own reward and, as we take the time to develop them, our lives take on a fuller dimension. When we learn to reflect love, joy, peace and patience, we benefit plus those we meet. We cannot reflect something unless it is within us to reflect. When we are truly reflecting, joy, peace and patience, others are glad to be associated with us. When we reflect those qualities in our lives, others benefit because those qualities have the effect of rubbing off on them.
As we go on to develop kindness, goodness, faithfulness and gentleness, others know they can trust us. They know they will be treated the way they deserve to be treated. When we deal with people honestly, and with kindness, faithfulness and gentleness, we send them the message that we care. In return, they treat us the same way, because what we give to others comes back to us.
When we develop self-control, we gain a balance in our lives that enables us to live the other qualities more fully and completely. Without self-control we lack the ability to be patient with ourselves and with others. Without self-control we lack the ability to love unconditionally. Self-control gives us the ability to put the ego in the correct perspective so that we do not harm others or ourselves. When we can do this, we realize the true value of the ego as the vehicle for our expression and not a domineering tyrant that has to have its way. The ego that insists on having its own way is a destructive ego, both to the self and to others. It can lead to destructive habits; it can seek its good without being concerned about the welfare or good of others. Mastering self-control is a key to gaining mastery over our lives.
If we really want to be sought after, to "gain friends and influence people," we must develop the characteristics championed by Paul. As we develop them, we will reflect them in our lives, and others will be drawn to us like magnets. They will seek our company because of the comfort, companionship, friendship and love they experience with us. We will find we are our own best friend because those same qualities help us to love ourselves. They help us to be at peace with ourselves, to have more patience and joy in our hearts. We will learn how to treat ourselves with kindness, goodness, faithfulness and gentleness. We will give to life what we seek from life and we will be rewarded with the greatest treasure -- wholeness of life.
Again, Paul said, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."
You Think About It! ;)
Warmly - Until next time,
Kevin Rayner
http://oaktree.faithsite.com
Someone has said, "You are sought after if you reflect love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."
Living is a process of learning and growing from the lessons we learn. One lesson worth learning early is that life gives back to us what we give to it. Paul's formula will help us give our best to the world and in the process gain friends and influence the world around us.
Each quality Paul mentions carries with it its own reward and, as we take the time to develop them, our lives take on a fuller dimension. When we learn to reflect love, joy, peace and patience, we benefit plus those we meet. We cannot reflect something unless it is within us to reflect. When we are truly reflecting, joy, peace and patience, others are glad to be associated with us. When we reflect those qualities in our lives, others benefit because those qualities have the effect of rubbing off on them.
As we go on to develop kindness, goodness, faithfulness and gentleness, others know they can trust us. They know they will be treated the way they deserve to be treated. When we deal with people honestly, and with kindness, faithfulness and gentleness, we send them the message that we care. In return, they treat us the same way, because what we give to others comes back to us.
When we develop self-control, we gain a balance in our lives that enables us to live the other qualities more fully and completely. Without self-control we lack the ability to be patient with ourselves and with others. Without self-control we lack the ability to love unconditionally. Self-control gives us the ability to put the ego in the correct perspective so that we do not harm others or ourselves. When we can do this, we realize the true value of the ego as the vehicle for our expression and not a domineering tyrant that has to have its way. The ego that insists on having its own way is a destructive ego, both to the self and to others. It can lead to destructive habits; it can seek its good without being concerned about the welfare or good of others. Mastering self-control is a key to gaining mastery over our lives.
If we really want to be sought after, to "gain friends and influence people," we must develop the characteristics championed by Paul. As we develop them, we will reflect them in our lives, and others will be drawn to us like magnets. They will seek our company because of the comfort, companionship, friendship and love they experience with us. We will find we are our own best friend because those same qualities help us to love ourselves. They help us to be at peace with ourselves, to have more patience and joy in our hearts. We will learn how to treat ourselves with kindness, goodness, faithfulness and gentleness. We will give to life what we seek from life and we will be rewarded with the greatest treasure -- wholeness of life.
Again, Paul said, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law."
You Think About It! ;)
Warmly - Until next time,
Kevin Rayner
http://oaktree.faithsite.com
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