Sometimes we feel that there is not enough love in our lives. We think that our spouse, our confrere, our fellow human being, could love us more. God could love us even more. Our desire for love is so deep and comprehensive that it is hardly possible to satisfy it completely. We should not feel guilty about this longing. That is simply how we are made. Why is that? Because God created us that way. He created us out of love and out of an abundance of love. Out of pure love. We want to feel that at all times, to live out of that love. When a little bit of that love is missing, we feel it too.
Years ago, my novice master told me something I have never forgotten. Even if someone loves you, you still have to believe that he or she loves you. Even if he gives you all the signs of his love, a letter, a kiss, a gift, even a sacrifice—if you don’t believe that he loves you, it would be in vain. That is a leap we have to take: to believe it. And to accept it. Sometimes we live in disharmony with other people, believing that they do not wish us well, perhaps even wishing us harm. And perhaps we are right in this perception. But there is always a certain amount of love. Parents, for example, loved us even if they were unable to express their love for us adequately and fully. And perhaps years later, even after their death, we can recognize this and finally accept it.
God loved the world so much that he sent his only Son (John 3:16). And we did not accept him. And we did not believe him. We did not believe in God’s love, even though we saw it. Was his love for us still real? Of course it was! It took many people to believe and accept it. Mary, the Mother of God, gave us an example how to believe in God’s love. God has made all of us for himself, and our heart is restless until it rests in him. (St Augustine) In the end, the love with which God surrounds and embraces us will be fully revealed. For love was there from the beginning, and so it will be there at the end.
Lord, I am grateful for your love. Let me believe in your love. Let me see the traces of love in my neighbor as well. Let us never see only the dark side. Give me humility to accept that I am loved, and let me put aside grumbling and resistance.
Wilde Monk 
Thank you for this lovely post this morning. Kat
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This is beautiful thank you 🙏
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I am finding a need to spend more time reflecting on this. My first thoughts are that I say God loves me and that God loves all of us. I’ve never asked myself or thought about whether I believe that God loves me. As I reflect on my life experiences I can say: God protected me when I was in dangerous situations and God gave me strength and courage to continue giving of myself when in an abusive situation. I had not perceived this to be God’s love for me nor have I thought about other’s thoughtfulness, kindness and actions to be signs of their love for me. I believe that there are persons who like me but I have not thought of these persons loving me. Love is a deeper reality as I reflect on what you shared. Thanks for sharing your wisdom.
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