A Labor of Love

You've embarked on a mission to share something you have with others. If you're like many mission entrepreneurs, it's a labor of love -- especially for yourself, honoring the gifts and inspiration that flow to and through you.

But once the newness of what you're doing wears off, it's easy to get caught up in the struggle of making it happen. That day to day grind of finding resources, delivering goods or services, and lest we forget, dealing with administrative matters can be a drag on even the most enthusiastic server.

When you find your energies depleted from the battle and it looks like the world just might get the better of you, take a time out and try to remember why you're doing it in the first place.

Remember that it's a labor of love and treat it that way. Try to reconnect with the love that was within you when you so exuberantly started and allow it to flow out to every aspect of your mission.

Try to love those you are serving. Love them for graciously bearing the condition that is allowing you to express your love. Love them for having the strength to bear it, and share it with you. Love them in their struggle and suffering. And love them in their moments of hope and triumph.

Don't forget though, that love is not a one way street. Look for the ways that love comes back to you as well. Accept the return of their love through their looks of gratitude or the light that shines in their eye from an "aha" moment.

Realize that even when there seems no such return, look for it to come back to you in another way. And when you don't see it, trust that it is anyway, and it will become known to you when the time is right.

Even when those you serve are non-responsive or reject your efforts, try to see that they are doing their best to love themselves without your help, and accept it as invitation to love them another way or someone else until they are ready.

And when times get tough, as they surely will, rather than beat yourself up for not being as successful at it as you might want (whatever "success" means to you), love yourself simply for making a stand for the love and light within you.

Most of all, know that every moment of your effort and whatever it brings is an expression of the love of your source for you. For through this mission and the situations it brings, always it is a gift to allow you love and be loved a little more in every moment. And through that love, to draw a little closer to that which you are inside.

So take some time right now to think about what you're doing today and all the love that has gone in to getting you to where you are now.

Love truly is its own reward. Enjoy it.