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You cannot give away what you don't possess. You can't give your friend a present on her birthday if you haven't bothered to buy one. If your purse or wallet is empty you can't put even one coin into a charity collection box. You can't truly love other people if you haven't got the love of God in your heart. God puts the ability to love in people's hearts because HE FIRST LOVED THEM.
But you have to receive His love in the first place! He loves you, as He loves everyone He has given life to. Wrong or evil thoughts, words and deeds - NO; but He never stops loving the person themselves. If you will accept this unconditional love, you will be better able to love other people and see them all as your fellow human beings. Jesus answered an important question put to Him (see Mark's Gospel chapter 12 verses 30-31). A teacher of the law asked Him which was the most important commandment. Jesus answered "Love the Lord your God with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength. The second most important commandment is this: Love your neighbour as you love yourself. There is no other commandment more important than these two". ("Neighbour" means ALL other people).
Jesus didn't mean that we should be full of self-importance, pride and vanity. No, He meant just remember that you are very special to God. You MUST personally receive the love of the Lord. Of course, there are those who don't believe in Him, or try to ignore Him. How can you really LOVE in a human way if you don't have the greatest love of all? Believe - and receive. Believe - and you will see amazing things happen in your life.
Although I had good, Christian parents who raised me in a loving and sensible way, for many, many years I found it hard to think of myself as "loveable". I was a bit shy and didn't have many close friends. I didn't like myself much. I got clinical depression and had a breakdown; I was only 28. Now, many years later and with three fine grown-up daughters, I am happy bathed in God's love and have some real friends too. The best part is: I am able, and want, to give with love to others. God sees our hearts. Make sure yours is a heart full of love. (See 1 John chapter 4 verses 7 to 12 )
