you-side-up

The above quotation relates to my experiences in real life because I have discovered how influential and powerful loving one another is. This is a 'new command' not only for people in the first century but also for us today, because whatever people say, loving each other over ourselves doesn't often come naturally. That's why it is life-changing.

We all love ourselves. No matter how much we self-deprecate, we value ourselves and our talents, our wants, and our potential. We live in our own self-interest and we really don't like to step out of what benefits us to benefit others, and if someone hits you, you hit them back. We all like our 'eggs' ME-side-up.

So why would someone do something that hurts them to help someone else? Having this kind of love is confusing to some people. They can't understand why anyone would step out of their way and do something for someone else. There are plenty of reasons that might be less obvious-- seemingly showing love for someone but just doing it to get the praise or admiration of others. Visiting a refugee camp and posting pics on your Instagram! But why would somebody show love to another person when it doesn't seem to benefit them? What's the point?

Self-sacrificial love instead of self-interest is life-changing because it is powerful. The kind of love that never hits back, that pushes itself down, that steps out of itself for someone else. This is a new command that is opposite to the one already wired into our systems, and so the person who can follow it needs greater strength to use it. I challenge you to do something for another person-- something that says "you-side-up".