The Hardest Lesson

"The hardest-learned lesson: that people have only their kind of love to give, not our kind." - Mignon McLaughlin, writer

Everybody has a different kind of love to give - that's what makes life so interesting to me.  I admit this was not an easy lesson for me to learn.  I seemed to always want the people in my life to treat me in a certain way or else it automatically meant they didn't love or like me.  I would put conditions on friendships and relationships.  "You'd do this for me if you loved me" was one of my most famous lines.  Not something I'm proud of but I said it (often) nonetheless.

Love can be expressed in many ways.  Some people aren't as open with their expressions of love as others are.  Expressions of love are unique and precious and I've learned to accept them all joyfully.  When I don't put expectations on other people, they become free to show love the best way they can.  That's the important part.  I've been blessed with so many friends who all love me in a different way.  And, I get to love them in my way.  Once this hard lesson is learned, life becomes more than bearable and more than just tolerable.  I have a happy, joy-filled, God-filled life today because I accept the love that is given to me.  This quote reminded me of that today.  I am so grateful.