It was Dan George, OC a chief of the Tsleit Waututh Nation, a coast Salish whose Indian reserve is located on Burrand inlet in the district of North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He once said, “It is hard for me to understand a culture that not only hates and fights his brothers but even attacks Nature and abuses her. Man must love all creation or he will love none of it. Love is something you and I must have. We must have it because our spirit feeds upon it. Without love, our self esteem weakens. Without it, our courage fails. Without love, we can no longer look out confidently at the world. Instead, we turn inwardly and begin to feed upon our own personalities and little by little, we destroy ourselves.
There is a clear validation of the above in the scripture; 1st Corinthians 13 : 4-5 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrong… whoever lives in love lives in God and in them. Love does not delight in evil but rejoice with the TRUTH. It always protects, it always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. Spiritually, Love can be referred to as a rooted instrument in a spiritual connection that helps us find meaning and purpose in our lives.
Similarly, in the book of 1st Peter 4:8 “Above all, love each other deeply because love covers over a multitude of sins.” John 15:12: “My is this: “Love each other as I have loved. Jesus said unto him, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and thy mind. This is the first and the greatest commandment. And the second is like unto it, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all laws. The highest highest form of love, is found in charity and the love of God for man and of man to God. Love of agape; passion, intimacy and commitment.
Love means to be deeply committed to someone or something. The basic meaning of love is to feel more than liking towards something or someone. Loving selflessly means you have enough love and respect for others that you aren’t afraid to do what’s best for them, even if it’s going to be painful for you. You’re willing to absorb the pain and sacrifice. Although it is not easily sustainable unless it is reciprocal. From my personal experience and observations in my life, both as an adult and a child…. it can only be sustained in a two way traffic. It is a bond.
God’s love is shown by justifying us (or declaring us innocent) by grace though faith in Christ. Christ is treated as if He were the sinner, and the sinner is treated as if he were the rightous one. Agape love— unconditional love. The fatherly love of God for humans, as well as the human reciprocal love for God. This is the sum total and essence of faith in God through Christ our Lord and savior.
On the other hand, appreciation and gratitude for everything we received, is a very critical requirement for sustainable love and existentialist to continually benefits from same. Lack of appreciation, greed and materialism, invokes unpleasant experience and deep rooted animosity amongst others, in the affairs of our nation, communities and immediate families. This is so because materialism has creep into our society through the modern day religion that emphasize the aspect of material prosperity much more than the real prosperity.
Gratitude is a powerful catalyst for happiness; gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the “Soul”; gratitude turns what we have into enough. Our Lord Jesus Christ summed up gratitude this way, “Give thanks in all circumstance; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” “This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it” “And let the peace of Christ rule in your heart.” To which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
Gratitude is one of the many positive emotions. It’s about focusing on what’s good in our lives and being thankful for things we have. Gratitude is pausing to notice and appreciate the things that we take for granted. Like having a place to live, food, clean water, friends, and family members. Even access to the world via technology. Gratitude is a thankful appreciation for what an individual receives, weather tangible or intangible. Scripture calls over and again to give thanks to the Lord: “Oh give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His steadfast love endures forever..”
Appreciation and gratitude is another dimension of the cognitive dissonance to the Mind Restructuring advocacy. NIGERIA WILL RISE AGAIN…. OUR BELOVED BROTHERS AND SISTERS WILL BE JOYFUL AGAIN.
ARISE ‘O COMPATRIOTS
Richard Odusanya is a Social Reform Crusader and the convener of AFRICA COVENANT RESCUE INITIATIVE ACRI
