Love

Seeing as how yesterday was Valentines Day, I thought I might write a little about love.

Personally, I had a fabulous day. I spent most of it with Nathan, my sister, brother-in-law and niece. We went shopping, out to lunch, then for a walk at the park while taking pictures. It was a perfect day. It ended with making an amazing spinach dip (lol ;) and playing Super Smash Bro's with my three younger brothers. I ate lots of smarties, Nathan had loads of Nerds (candy) and we all laughed the rest of the evening before Nathan finally had to head home. God has blessed me tremendously with all the amazing people in my life that show me everyday that I am loved.

Most people who have a "someone" can't wait for this specific holiday to come around. It usually means the girl gets flowers, a stuffed bear, chocolates, dinner, a card, and so on and so forth. The guy...well, he gets a hug or something, and MAYBE even a card. For those who are by themselves, it can be a depressing day. Believe me, I used to know that feeling well. They feel alone, and unloved on a day where the rest of the world is focused on love.

The question is: what IS love? It's a very hard question, because most people have a different answer. Some people say words of affirmation make them feel loved, some say gifts, others say doing something for them. Even then, that's not really getting down to what love is, and means. The best place to find the answer is in the bible.
Humans, most of the time, have a love that doesn't go very deep. Most husbands and wives have a deeper love for each other than most other relationships (though in today's society that is getting rare). But is that the picture of perfect love?

The bible says that we all have someone who loves us. Not only does He love us, and want the absolute best for us, but He also gave His life for us. True story. Romans 5:8 says, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." That kind of love is perfect, unselfish, and deep. John 15: 12-13 says, "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends." Whether friend, sibling, husband and wife or parent, we should love like Christ loved us. This may not mean literally going and giving our physical body to die for the ones we love, but should we not devote our lives to loving them no matter what happens, "giving our life" for them; to protect them? Dying for another human being is the biggest act of love one can do. But can we not do the next thing possible...spend our lives loving like Christ loved us? That unconditional, agape love. (Which means "selfless love of one person for another.")

Christ tells us of perfect love all through the bible. He is our perfect example.
Over in 1 John 4 God talks about love, how we are to love, and who we are supposed to love. He gives us a commandment to love, not a suggestion. (It's also a good reminder for us as Christians to watch how we treat other people, since we are displaying Christ's name through our title "Christian".)

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us. If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also."

So whether it be Valentines Day, or any other day of the year...know you're loved, and make sure you are SHOWING love to everyone around you. I can't think of a worse feeling than that of being unloved. We should all take Christ's example, and go live it.