Biblical Answer

Understanding the Commandment to Love Our Neighbor as Ourselves

The commandment to love our neighbor as ourselves is a fundamental principle in Christian teaching, emphasizing the importance of treating others with kindness, compassion, and respect. However, this commandment can be challenging to put into practice, especially in modern parenting. To begin with, we need to understand what it means to love ourselves. This is not about manufacturing affectionate feelings or enjoying our own society, but rather about recognizing our inherent worth and value as human beings created in the image of God. When we love ourselves, we are not selfishly focusing on our own interests, but rather, we are acknowledging our need for love, care, and compassion, just like anyone else.

Practicing the Commandment in Modern Parenting

So, how can we practice the commandment to love our neighbor as ourselves in modern parenting? The answer lies in acting as if we do love our neighbor, rather than waiting for feelings of affection to arise. This means treating our children, their friends, and our community with kindness, empathy, and understanding. It involves being willing to listen, to forgive, and to show compassion, even when it's difficult. As Jesus taught in the parable of the Good Samaritan, loving our neighbor is not just about feeling a certain way, but about taking action to help those in need. In parenting, this might mean being available to listen to our children, being patient with their struggles, and being willing to help them develop empathy and compassion for others.

A Deeper Understanding of Love

Ultimately, loving our neighbor as ourselves is not just about treating others with kindness, but about recognizing our interconnectedness as human beings. We are all created in the image of God, and we all have inherent worth and value. When we love ourselves, we are acknowledging this worth and value, and when we love our neighbor, we are recognizing their worth and value as well. As Augustine noted, we cannot both love ourselves first and foremost and love God first and foremost. When we love our neighbor as ourselves, we are actually loving God, because we are treating others with the same love and compassion that we would want for ourselves. This is a profound understanding of love that can transform our parenting and our relationships with others.