Love Means Being Challenged to do Better

"Love me as I am" - "Don't try to change me."

We hear phrases like that from people who want to receive unconditional love.

But TRUE love means the other person cares enough to want us to reach our full potential.  When a parent pushes a child to excel in school, when a wife encourages a husband to get an advanced degree, or when God tells us to shed our bad habits, we should not assume it is because they can't accept us for who we are - maybe it is because they see the potential for greatness and want us to experience more.

"Imagine that you have signed up for swimming lessons and then your instructor takes you aside and says “listen, you really have talent at swimming. I think that you could compete in the Olympics if you apply yourself. I want you to work harder than everyone else here, and practice more on your own.” How would you feel? The extra practice is going to cut into your TV and popcorn eating time. You are not even sure that you want to be an Olympic swimmer. What good is it to you if you are one? Why can’t your instructor just accept you as you are and leave you alone to do whatever you want? If he loved you,wouldn’t he just let you do what you wanted? Well… that’s the challenge of letting yourself be led; recognizing leadership as love, and submitting to it."

If interested in a good article on being loved and challenged - read the article HERE