What Is Love, Anyway?

Ah, the day of love! It seems to mean a lot to chics and not be something men really get into as much, but they can be great creating a romantic date to celebrate. But, on this day, I ponder what is love? In the beginning of a relationship, it is a high like no other. Romantic gestures are natural and overflowing. Chemistry is strong and life seems richer and fuller, and it is. Later, things get more subdued, and the opposite traits that once attracted us like a moths to a flame, now are our biggest irritation. When those opposite traits clash and we wonder what it would be like to not have to deal with this or that trait, that is when it is time to re-create love moments. What came naturally in the early stages of love, now has to be planned or done with the mind intentionally and not just the heart. However, we will find that feelings follow action. So waiting to feel like doing something loving for our spouse will mean we wait forever sometimes. But buying flowers anyway, giving a massage anyway, saying something loving anyway, can stir up the loving feelings. In fact, that is why affairs can be so tempting, as that person is usually complimentary, fun, and stirring up good feelings.

While we live in a society that says, leave the marriage if the "feelings are gone" or find someone else while you are married so you can be happy, those actions don't resonate with what God's word says about love. Isn't it just like God, to teach us and cause us to do the opposite of what we feel like, only to then, after we have obediently done so, to bless us with more loving feelings than we could have gotten by seeking a worldly way. So, today I am reminded that Love is not proud, it does not boast, it does not demand its own way, it always bears things, and love never fails. To our flesh those descriptions sound like we would be misearble if we followed them, and of course, that is always Satan's trick to get us to focus on the flesh and refuse to follow some of God's most anti-flesh commands. Yet, when we do reach out and not demand our own way, when we bear ALL things, when we are not prideful with our mate, then it is a miracle to watch what Jesus does. He honors those who honor Him and when we humble ourselves to love the way God loves and moreoever, in the way He teaches us to love, then, and only then, do we really experience deep love. We can re-create the passion and fire of from when we first fell in love with our mate. But it takes deliberately choosing to act first, and then like a big surprise, all of a sudden, love shows up again. Today, as many are on tighter funds than before, let's remember that love bears all things and to see our mate the way Christ sees them.

I am so thankful for my parents' having raised me in a home where the Word of God was taught and lived. Without it as a way for living, we really mess things up. Cheers to all who are in love today and for those without a special someone, know that the Greatest Love of your heart is there and He can and will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory. So let Him love you, as He has to be the foundation for the way you will love another human being eventually anyway. So, Happy Valentine's Day, and let's remember that the greatest commandment Jesus gave was "Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, mind , and soul AND love your neighbor as yourself.". Choose this day to love.
L