dancing feetThere’s a fine line between self-confidence and pride,

but there’s also a thin ribbon between humility and low self-esteem.

As a person who works with teenagers in schools and at church,

I see the dance between these very real and oh-so-human emotions up-close and personal almost daily.

The stepping back and forth between a feeling of being qualified to a feeling of being the most qualified.

The tiptoeing across the line of not wanting too much recognition to a feeling of unworthiness for any recognition.

These character traits run right up against each other like water lapping on a shore…………….

one constantly trying to overpower the other,

pulling grains of sand back into the ocean with every crashing wave.

Erosion of the soul happens when pride wins or low self-esteem is the victor.

Think too highly of yourself and you lose friends, lose the need for a Savior.

Tear yourself down enough and you push friends away, declare that the Creator must have messed up when He made you.

How do we step through life in such a way that the crossing of these lines becomes less tricky?

How do we keep dancing without falling on the side of arrogance or the side of worthlessness?

As a mom, how do I help my own kids learn to walk this thread-like line?

I’m not sure the answer is an easy one.

But I do know this.

It all starts with love.

Loving others and loving ourselves.

When we fall short on either side of love,

we fall.

And in falling we cross the line every single time.

So, today, open your eyes.

Who needs your love?

Is it that kid in class that no one talks to?

Is it that teacher that seems tired?

Is it your mom? your dad?

Is it you?

Pride will keep you from loving others.

Low self-esteem will keep you from loving yourself.

What’s it going to take for us to truly walk in every kind of love?

When Jesus was asked about the greatest commandment, He replied,

Love the Lord your God

with all your heart and with all your soul and

with all your mind and with all your strength.’

The second is this:

‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

There is no commandment greater than these.”

See the dance?

We have to love God with every inch of our soul……..

Yet we can only love others as much as we love ourselves.

There’s no room for self-love and yet there’s no way to love others without first loving ourselves.

Can you grasp how much God loves you?

Be amazed.

Feel confident.

Can you understand how much He loves you?

Be amazed.

Feel humbled.

This is the mystery of love and at the same time the secret.

Love God.

Love Him with every single breath as if nothing else matters and suddenly you won’t matter.

But at the very same time,

love yourself because He loves you.

In this acceptance of His affection you will find yourself so full of love that everything you do will be filled with both self-confidence and humility.

There’s the dance,

the stepping of a life filled with love can waltz right up to the line with no fear of falling.

Because when we love God we suddenly love life.

And when we love life, we love everyone around us with that very same depth….even our own self.

Love.

It’s the dance of life.

The beautiful dance.

(“Dancing Feet” painting by Sara Young)