With Everything?

"I love you with all my heart." Eventually, one day, I'd certainly like to hear this from an amor. I dont, however, hear this phrase often. Of course, the first part is heard more than any other phrase in existance. Especially here in the land where love is expressed more than purified water is drunk. In fact, I'm sure I use it more than I should. But to tell someone, "I love you with all my heart," wow...that's a lot of lovin'. Powerful words. I'm not sure if I can ever say those words to anyone and truly mean it. After stating that we should love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, Jesus says, in Matt 22, that we should love our neighbors as ourselves.

I could argue here whether or not god is assuming self-love or telling us to love ourselves more. But I'm on the side of those who believe we love ourselves too much, and this isn't Jesus' call to self-improvement. I love myself (and possibly always will) way more than I love anyone else. I couldn't even say "I love you with all my heart" to my mother, who I am sure loves me more than I love her.

Yet Christ tells me to say this, and even worse, do this to a Superior, Divine being who knows I could never ever EVER possibly love Him as much as he loves me. Why? Why am I to do so? Why does he call me to do something so seemingly impossible?

Can I even attempt to do so if He knows my love for myself is almost as great as His love for me? It's too demanding. Didn't he allow me to be born loving myself as much as I do? Isn't it his fault I can't honestly say these words.

But God wouldn't ask me to do something he doesn't already do for me, right? So therefore God must love me with all his heart, soul, mind and strength...if he has all those things. So God loves me that much. But still divine love passed to a human soul. Can it really ever go both ways?

Indeed this will take more contemplation.