I am quite sure that until recently I didn’t truly understand the law of reflection. We get back what we give. If we give distrust, we get that back. If we give anger, we get that back. If we give loud, fear, doubt, skepticism it all comes back to us. Conversely if we give kindness, compassion, empathy, generosity, vulnerability and love it comes back to us. It may not come back in the exact way we are looking for or from the exact person we want it from, but make no mistake, it will come back.
This is explained so well in an excerpt I want to share from an author named Jonathon Cahn.
“What do you see in the water?
“My reflection.”
“And when you glared at it, the face of an angry man glared back at you. When you stretched your hand out to the waters to give to it, the hand in the waters stretched back to give to you. And when you reached towards the waters to take from it, the hand reached back as if to take from you. This is the law of reflection. As you do, so it will be done to you. If you bless others, you will be blessed. If you withhold blessing, your blessings will be withheld.. If you live by taking, it will, in the end, be taken from you. If you live a life of giving, it will, in the end, be given to you. Condemn others, and you will be condemned. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven. Live with a closed hand, and His hand will be closed to you. Live with an open hand, and His hand will be opened to you. What you give will be given back. What you take will be taken back. Therefore, live a life of love, of giving, of blessing, of compassion, of an open hand and heart.”
This is so important when we deal with loved ones who are exhibiting self-destructive behaviors. We often reflect their behaviors. When they get angry, we answer with anger. When they create chaos, we answer with the same. When they become loud, we get louder. When they spew hate, often we match their words and tones. It is human nature to defend and protect ourselves.
But what if, instead, we answered their anger with calm, their chaos with peace, their loudness with a quiet voice, their words of hate, with words of empathy and understanding. Imagine.
So today I will make it my goal to give to others, my husband, my children (especially the “difficult ones”), my tribe, the people in the community I serve, what I wish to see reflected back to me.
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