Look After Yourself!

“Look after yourself!” Oh those words, so well meant and heard so often this past summer! Words that I have used often in the past myself. They are well meant words, said by those who are concerned and want to show that concern. I know that! But after hearing them said so often, in so many difference voices over the last 8 months, I find myself reacting differently on hearing them.

At first I was stunned, then dismayed by my reaction. I felt ungrateful. What was wrong with me? Why was I beginning to resent hearing these words? But then I took some time to think about just why I was feeling the way I did, and also why, if this was such good advice, why did no one ever take it - or so it seemed.

To me, these words “Look after yourself’ deny the basic principle not only in Christianity but all the major world religions. Christians call it the Golden Rule - to do unto others what you would have them do to you, or ‘To love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your strength and with all your might and your neighbour as yourself.” Nowhere do the words ascribed to Jesus say to tell the other to look after themselves, that they are on their own! Nowhere do they even suggest such a thing. If, as Christians, we believe that we are meant to be the love of God in this world, then HOW is telling someone to take care of themselves showing that love? Platitudes such as ‘Take care of yourself’, are just that, hackneyed, trite, overworked sayings that might make the the speaker feel better but do little to help the hearer. Use it if you must, but be aware that you are called on to offer much more support than just words.

So if you don’t hear the words ‘Look after yourself’ coming out of my mouth the next time something happens in your life, it isn’t because I don’t care but rather because I’m thinking of other aways that I can take care of you.

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