I have often been drawn to this quote. People are imperfect. People disappoint and irritate. People will let us down sometimes. Even people who are ‘supposed’ to love you the most may fall short.
I strongly believe that we do not have to earn love. I believe people are worthy of love and respect just because they are human. Love isn’t earned, it just is.
However, I know it is also complicated.
There is something about this quote which gets me thinking about accepting people for who they are and where they are at with their own journeys. I don’t think a person has to put up with being treated disrespectfully or not have their needs met in relationships with significant others, children, family or friends. It is just that people are often a bit broken in places.
Maybe we are better off if we assume that people are putting their best heart forward. Maybe someone who loves us doesn’t have the tools necessary to love us like we want. Maybe we can at least acknowledge that someone is trying with all they have even if it isn’t enough or even if it is a relationship we can’t stay in.
This quote pulls my thoughts to parents and children and the family with whom we are biological related. It gets me thinking about people with mental illness or addictions or other issues that may get in the way of completely loving.
What would happen if we could accept that someone may not love up to our expectations and honor that they are loving with all they have?