Wednesday’s Thought – love first

This G.K. Chesterton quote struck me particularly hard today as I was perusing some potential quotes to use for today’s thought. My idea was to find something related to education since school is starting back next week. In this light, I was reading through some things said by C.S. Lewis and G.K. Chesterton. But instead, this quote by G.K Chesterton stopped me in my tracks.

“There is a great lesson of ‘Beauty and the Beast,’ that a thing must be loved before it is lovable.” Chesterton, G.K.

When I have a child acting out, when someone just isn’t being kind repeatedly and is harder and harder to love and to be around, perhaps I should focus less on correction and more on pouring out love to this person. A thing must be loved before it is lovable. Perhaps this child does not feel loved at the moment and so she finds it more difficult to show love to others. I believe there is a related biblical principle at play here as well.

“We love because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19

We love because first God loved us. We are only able to show love to God and to others because he loved us first. I think that perhaps pouring out more love to that kid who is having a difficult time loving others may be just the thing to turn the story around. Anyone else have a kid in need of some extra love this week?