Love is a Verb
This weekend, even in a pandemic, many will celebrate Valentine's Day. A day where those who love will celebrate with treats, flowers, cards, gifts and affection. The bible tells us a great deal about love. John 15:17, tells us, "To love others as I have loved you." Matthew 22:39, says, "To love your neighbor as you love yourself." And, 1 Corinthian 13:13, says, "Where there is faith, hope and love, love is the greatest." Since the concept of love is simple, why do we need a designated day to remind us to demonstrate love?
Why do so many people have problems loving others? Simple love begins with a healthy dose of self-healing. The complexities of love is often due to unresolved emotions, issues or wounds. Whether acknowledged or not, nastiness is a sign of a sick soul, the result of our own actions, or other people's poor choices. Self love cannot be accomplished in a hurting, broken, or wounded soul. "Hurting people, hurt people." Just like joy, unresolved pain shows up in practically everything we do.
Those in pain, are rooted in unhealthy emotions that cause them to inflict hurt on others. At every opportunity, they thrust themselves in scenarios to find the latest unwilling prey, then slither in sprinkles of hate. If you work with them, beware, especially if you are the new hire. When they decide they don't like you, look out, you will become their latest target. Those close to them at some point discover they are not loyal to anyone except themselves. It is fascinating how they can rally others to participate in their antics.
They need an audience to display their conquests to others. Don't be deceived, behind it, are afraid, broken souls who crave unconditional love. Think about it, have you ever seen a happy bully, mean girl, off-color jokester, or gossiper? Their mere presence shifts the atmosphere. My grandmother used to say, "Baby, the mean ones need love the most." She loved everyone, no matter what, she just loved. So love will challenge us, according to 1 Corinthian 13:4-8.
Only God can give grace to love the unloveable. Grace to love those who have physically or emotionally hurt us; who abandoned or neglected us; who bullied and wreaked havoc on our existence; who betrayed our confidence; who gossiped and slandered our character; or, the mother or father who did the unthinkable... Love is simple, it is merely a reflection of how we feel about ourselves, the result of a healed, whole, healthy person.
Luke 6:32, tells us, "If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you?" People who love, admire and celebrate you are easy to love, but loving the difficult is challenging. We must love the impatient, the mean, the braggart, the self absorbed, the dishonorable, the addict, the thief, the religious, the angry, the judgmental, the betrayer, the liar, the gossip, the slanderer, or the dishonest. One way to do that is to remember the grace you were given during your worse moments, and extend that to the unloveables in your life.
Love is a verb, so let your actions speak. At times, love is painful, but it is worth the effort. We may falter in our efforts to demonstrate love, but we must never stop trying. God will give you grace to overcome wounds that hinder love. Where love is concerned, no more excuses, "Forgive them, for they know not what they do." The. bible promises that love will never fail.
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