Love Is part 1
Many many moons ago, when I worked at a grocery store, there were these things known as newspapers. I know they still exist, but I also know that people really don't read--especially if it's not on their phone or tablet. But I digress. The point is, there was always this little comic in the paper that I would read in the breakroom. And it would say, "Love Is..." and then have a little picture and a caption. Just little things. Love Is knowing her favorite song. Or Love Is knowing your heart is in the right place. Or Love Is being loved back. I always thought it was kind of cool. I may seem like a tough guy because I'm tall and quiet, but inside I can be a bit of a softie. Anyway, I was thinking about those little comics, and I thought that was a good excuse to spend a few days on what love is. Now, I say this all the time so it should be no surprise, but love is giving. John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." God loved... so He gave. And, of course, my personal definition of love: "I will gladly spend myself and all I have for you, even though it seems that the more I love you, the less you love me" (2 Corinthians 12:15 NLT). Giving everything you are and everything you have, without worrying about how it's received. And, listen, there is a degree of wisdom that needs to be exercised here. You can't force your "love" down people's throats. Anytime you try to force something down someone's throat--be it good, bad, or ugly--they will choke on it. Throw it up. Reject it. So you don't always have to be over the top. Sometimes the least you can do is the most you can do. Sometimes just being there for someone is enough. It's not about overwhelming people. It's about seeing a need and meeting it. Because love doesn't demand its (HIS) own way. Love is soft and sweet. And, yes, I know we like to throw the term "tough love" around. I get it. Sometimes you need to say no to people. Because enabling is not loving. Sometimes you hurt by trying to "help" too much. Sometimes you hurt YOURSELF by trying to help too much. We try to go the extra mile... and then keep going. I'm telling you right now, if I'm worn out, I'm not really good for anything or anybody. So give what you've got. Always. But once you've given what you've got... you have to let that be enough. It's either enough... or it isn't. And either way, you've done what you can do. So when we're thinking about what love is--the nature of love--it's giving. Giving everything you have and everything you are. Seeing a need that you can meet... and meeting it. Building relationships with people. Getting to know them, so that you can have that wisdom. So that you can play her favorite song for her to cheer her up, because you know what her favorite song is. Little things that mean a lot. Little things that mean everything. As simply as I can put it: Love IS giving. But you have to know what to give. And you have to know what you've got. Because you can't give what you don't have, and you can only give what you do have. But you SHOULD only give what THEY need!