The Greatest Commandment

I am on a mission. No, I’m not in some foreign country building wells or orphanages. I’m not spreading the gospel to tribes in remote parts of the world that have never heard The Word. I am here, in good ol’ Nebraska. I’m just raising kids, loving my husband, making friends, teaching Religious Education to fifth graders, running a business, and living my life, EVERY day!  I am on a mission to grow closer to God each and every day, to KNOW, SERVE and LOVE our God. I wake up each morning with Gratitude and Enthusiasm in my heart. It isn’t always easy, some days I have to remind myself that I am SUPREMELY blessed and that if I continue my day with a less than positive attitude, it certainly won’t get any better.

As a result, my days are generally pretty terrific! My little road rage “issue” is even improving DRASTICALLY! Today another driver cut me off and then slammed on their brakes and I didn’t even scream or yell. I simply shrugged my shoulders and said, “Oh well, no harm-no foul!” We ALL make mistakes. From time-to-time we turn without our blinker or change lanes without noticing a car in the next lane. It happens. I do it too, so why condemn someone else for the same offense?

In Matthew, Jesus teaches us the Greatest Commandment is;

“You shall love the Lord, your God,

with all your heart,

with all your soul,

and with all your mind.

This is the greatest and the first commandment.

The second is like it:

You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”

Can you imagine what a different world this would be if we ALL lived by this even 25% of the time? Seriously, we are NEVER going to be capable of living a sin free life here on Earth… but what if we tried, tried EVERY day to first, love our God with all our heart, with all our soul, and with ALL our mind. What if…we loved one another as we love ourselves. Putting the needs of others before our own.

I am trying TODAY to be the BEST version of me. I am trying to become that person that God created me to be, the person He sees me as. Isn’t it possible that if God can see us this way that we can also see ourselves and our neighbors this way?

Reach out to those around you today and do something kind and unexpected. It often is the smallest acts of kindness that have the greatest impact. Rake a neighbor’s leaves, bake cookies for a teacher or friend. Offer to take a friend’s kids to the park so they can have a few moments of peace either by themselves or with their spouse. I promise you, even simply holding the door for a stranger or buying someone a coffee will not only make the recipient feel loved, but YOU as well. Be who God created you to be, BE the gift to the world He designed you to be!

Blessings!

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Articles by Traci Runge

Traci Runge

Traci was born and raised in San Diego and has called Kearney, Nebraska home for the past 18 years. She is married to Darby Runge and together they have 6 children. They own and operate Pro-Tint, a window tinting business. Along with being a full-time mom, Traci is also a Manager and Certified Trainer with SendOutCards, she works with businesses and individuals to build relationships and grow their income through Relationship Marketing. Traci works hard to balance her roles of mother, wife and business owner. She strives to help make the world a better place through kindness and love and leading by example. Traci is committed to her family, church and community and can often be found volunteering in some capacity. www.sendoutcards.com/tracirunge