It sounds pretty simple, right? It should be. But we often derail our fulfillment and well-being at just this point. What sounds simple in concept can be in practice, paralyzingly difficult.
We want to be loved. We like, even love, to be loved. However we may struggle with allowing ourselves to be loved. It is an issue of self-worth.
Lesson #6 from Max: ALLOW YOURSELF TO BE LOVED.
I don't think Max ever had a day in which he felt unworthy of love. When he heard the vacuum fire up in my attempt to scoop up the thousands of fine blonde-red hairs from the carpet, floors or seemingly infinite spots, he didn't feel unworthy of love. As he played, or laid in the sun, in the back yard while I picked up his leave-behinds, he didn't feel unworthy. Max's only real vice was curling up and sleeping on a living room chair. I'd half get on to him. He'd climb down while giving me a you know you love me anyway expression.
There were the occasional folks that didn't care for Max. (See Lesson #4 | YOU ARE MORE). If he noticed at all, he chalked it up to their loss. (I know I did). I think in such encounters I could see a bit of wonderment in Max's eyes - "Hmmm, what was that? - and then it was gone.
When we really love, we expect to be loved... and don't get hung up on when love is not returned. So I guess I should amend Lesson #6 to: LOVE... AND ALLOW YOURSELF TO BE LOVED. Each of us is worthy of love. And the more we love, the greater our discovery and ability to be loved.
I knew I would eventually write Lesson #6 (and all of the Lessons from Max) on the last day of Max's life. Max became very sick very fast; with no hope of recovery. The last two days we spent with Max were horribly beautiful. (Wow, two years since, and my screen has suddenly become blurry.) We loved on Max, and though he could hardly stand, he allowed it. He loved it. Finally, on that afternoon we took Max into the Vet, we were crumbling. Max was not. A woman sat in the waiting room crying, having either received bad news or because she was there for the same reason we were. Max walked over and laid his chin on here knee. In his discomfort he comforted her. And he warmed our hearts and broke them at the same time.
Max allowed himself to be loved. And he taught me a lesson.
For now,
D
