Love: a passionate affection of one person for another. As I look around, it appears that people aren't as loving as they should be. What happened to the love for our fellow man? I believe I am a genuinely loving person. I don't think I have ever met a stranger. I had the pleasure of meeting a friend's family for the first time and their reception of me was surprising. They responded to me and interacted with me as though we had known each other all of our lives. Did they do this because they could feel the love in my heart or was it just me being me? I try to always be as open to new people as possible, but they don't always receive me the same.
I believe that love isn't truly love until it is given away. The funny thing about the word love is that it is both a noun and a verb. It is a thing and an action. It is something to possess as well as give away. You can be a loving person, but how will anyone know unless you demonstrate it. I heard in the news today that Eunice Kennedy Shriver had passed away and instantly I began to remember all the things that I had heard that she had done in her life.
She lived a life constantly demonstrating love. In one news article I read that she had worked for the Department of Defense for a dollar assisting veterans reiterate themselves into society after serving in combat and that she was the founder of the Special Olympics after seeing the mistreatment of disabled individuals. I never knew any of this. She did numerous other loving things in her life, but the few that I read showed how she made it a point to give her love away. At the end of the day money may dwindle, possessions may be destroyed but love never goes away.
When I look into the face of children I am constantly reminded of how unconditional love should be. They just love. No questions asked. They don't care about credentials or accomplishments they just love you. They don't care about skin color, religion, weight, or the other stipulations adults put on each other they just love you for who you are. I met the sweetest, friendliest little girl while visiting a friend the other day. When I stepped out of my car she immediately came up to me and started a conversation. She couldn't have been more than 3 or 4 years old, and had the sweetest personality you ever wanted to see. One thing that came to mind is that hate is taught. You see she was of a different race than myself, but she didn't care about that, she saw someone that she wanted to introduce herself to and she did just that.
What I realized from that little girl is to never stop giving my love away. No matter how mistreated I have been by some it hasn't been by all. Each person deserves their own opportunity to receive the wonderful gift of love that I can share. Love is a beautiful thing to have. It is invigorating. It is exhilarating. It puts a bounce in your stride. It makes your heart sing a new melody. It broadens your smile. One thing that I thank God for everyday is having people in my life that genuinely love me. If I don't have a dime in my pocket or they are overflowing. When I am a diva or look like I have been hit by a bus, they love me. They encourage me and stand by me.
It is a precious treasure to have someone love you. To love you with an unconditional love. No strings attached and no prerequisites.
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I often wonder where is the love that God so graciously showers us with daily, and why is it so difficult for us to shower others with what we as humans created by God should being doing automaticly. I recently did a blog on the eight types of love, and of those eight types, Agape love stood out the most because of its capability to cover every aspect of what love is and was intended to be. Love between humans is conditional; I'll love you is youf loose wieght or I will love you if you do this or that, it also tempral; I love you until.... We as a society as a race of people period, use the word love too loosely. Love is all action, it is all posession, and love is a problem for many because it is misunderstood and misconcieved daily but most of all its misrepresented. Great post I really enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteThis was such a touching post. It made perfect sense. I cannot say that I have ever looked at it from this POV. But perhaps this society has brainwashed us since the day we were born to the point now that we have no possible ideal what LOVE truly is.
ReplyDeleteYou do.
Thanks for sharing.