Hey friends, how are you today? Can you believe we are almost six weeks into the new year? There are days, when it seems like the new year began just yesterday and at other times, it feels like we are into week fifty seven of 2021.  How are you today though? Some days I must be intentional with my appreciation for a new day.  I have found that in order to appreciate new days, I must look above the waves of life and see the beauty that awaits my attention.  It is already in place; I just need to look up.  

On the way out of the door this morning, my husband said he loved me. Of course, I already know that, but it is always wonderful to hear it again.  Somedays I wonder though, why does he love me? Probably because I love him more (he would insist he loves me more, but I know better).  I suppose, we have made is easy to love each other because time and the grace of God (better said would be the grace of God and time) has cemented this emotion.  Throughout the twenty-nine years as a couple and twenty-seven years and counting wedding anniversaries, we have proved that love through our actions, speech, and care of each other.  We have extended that love to our girls, so that now the words are merely an extension of the actions.  

There is nothing passive about love is there? Love is active, it is a verb filled with action.  Without a relationship with the God of the universe, love cannot be demonstrated.  That is so because God IS love (making the word love here a state of being verb). Love is WHO He is.  The Lord does more than love mankind, He IS (epitomizes) love.  We need do nothing to garner His love for us.  He loves us because He can do no less than that. He IS love.  Where God exists, love must exist.  Without God there is only a semblance of love; a faux love because this love comes with strings attached. That’s our love for each other.

Now we can talk about the ‘kinds’ of love out there and yes there are various types of love as it relates to couples, friends and family but the characteristics of true love remain the same.  It is selfless, unconditional, unwavering, and unfailing. As mere man, can we say we love like that? I stand with you and boldly say “NO”.  It is easy to ‘love’ those that ‘love’ us, but as Christians the Lord requires that we also love those ‘who despitefully use us.  Can I do that without the Lord? Absolutely not! If that was possible, this world would a better place.  “What the world needs now is love, true love” …

I can perform gracious acts without love.  Truthfully gracious acts cost less than love.  Anyone can do good for someone else, but that anyone may not love that someone else.  Love demands gracious acts, but gracious acts do not always signify love.  I can do good for someone else because I want something from them, or perhaps I want to repay a kind act.  LOVE loves just because; LOVE has no strings attached.  LOVE is quick to forgive and forgive and forgive and forgive.  LOVE holds no wrong.  LOVE sees me perfect even as LOVE sees and acknowledges my faults.  Who can love like that but the God of the universe? 

You love me, I know, but that’s easy to say because you don’t know me.  You don’t know that I can be vengeful at times, you have not experienced my temper, the way that at times, I speak without thought. Though, I may come back with an apology the words are out there. Love knows everything there is to know about me and love me anyway. 

Throughout the years, I have not made it easy for the God of the universe to love me, yet He loves me still. I am not good enough to deserve His love, yet He loves me still.  I am prideful and impatient, still He loves me. Most days, I prefer my own company, yet He loves me, even though He is a people person.  He loves me because His character dictates it. 

He loves completely and nothing good does He withhold from those He loves.  Sometimes His love forces Him to say ‘no’, sometimes His love demands that stumbling block, sometimes His love must allow the tears to flow.  But all that is built and founded in His perfect love.  He loves because He is love.  

I am loved by my friends and family, and I dare say, I am loved because I love them.  Because of my love for them I have made it easier for them to love me too.  But the God of the Universe really sees me, He knows my thoughts and He sees what motivates my kind acts, yet He loves me still.  And now He says to His people, ‘you go, Be love and love like that’.  

Do you have a love language? What is yours?

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