Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’— Matthew 22:37-39

Love – such an easy word.
Used casually,
frequently,
carelessly.
We love
places,
objects,
foods.
We love
fiercely,
protectively,
sacrificially.

You call us to love,
ourselves,
our neighbors,
You.
And we struggle Lord.
We confuse love with like,
acceptance with approval.
We confuse feelings
with will,
emotions
with
decision.
We replace your
command,
with our
choice.

Teach us Lord,
let us love as you love,
learn as you taught,
live as you lived.
Free us from ourselves.