We each have many types of love
relationships — parents, children, spouses, friends. And they’re not always
with people; you may love an animal, or a place. Is there a single idea or
definition that runs through all the varieties of “love”?
I think so.
Love is about accepting another person EXACTLY as they are. It’s like purchasing a car, house, or piece
of furniture “as is.” When we make the
decision to love someone (because really loving a person, place, or thing
requires a conscious decision to put effort forth to love), we love them
unconditionally (as is). At least,
that’s my idea of it. Loving people this
way on a daily basis is probably the hardest. I mean, think about it, we love
our animals even though they mess up (throw up on the carpet after getting into
the trash, not listening when we ask them to come, taking up all the room in
the bed and leaving none for anyone else, J etc…). We figure they can’t help it…they are just animals. And we
continue to love places even after we discover their downsides…(i.e. living on
an island like Kwajalein-I will always love that place, but I don’t always want
to live there again because there are things I don’t care for about being there
year round-like not being able to get fresh food from a farmer’s market or go
hiking in the mountains or even go one day without sweating profusely due to
the heat and humidity).
Loving a
person unconditionally requires us to reserve our judgment of each other, to
accept our spouse’s or friend’s quirks and even find the positive in their
special ways. It means accepting that they are not perfect and remembering that
we are not perfect either. It means
waking up each day, no matter what is going on, and making a deliberate
decision to love all those who we come into contact with and especially those
we know best and spend the most time around.
And even though
I think I understand what love is, putting it into practice all the time is an
entirely different thing. In fact, most
nights, when my son and I say prayers at bedtime, I find myself praying to God
to help both of us be kind and loving always, to not only each other (because
sometimes we are the most unkind with those we are closest to), but also to all
those we come into contact with each day. So, I pray, God help us to mirror
your love and kindness to all those around us tomorrow. It’s tough sometimes, but so very necessary
in order to live at peace with others and to know that we are doing all we can
to follow in the example of the one who makes us perfect in His love! That
said…
1
Corinthians 13: 4-7 sums up love (all kinds) better than I ever could with
these words:
Love is
patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It
does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it
keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the
truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
(NIV)
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