Love

Love defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary says the following:

Love (n): 1. strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties..attraction based on sexual desire …2. warm attachment, enthusiasm, or devotion … 4. unselfish, loyal and benevolent (see benevolent 1a) concern for the good of another…

In just analyzing the word “love” from the definitions provided by Webster’s dictionary, it seems to me at least, that love is something one chooses to give. It appears that this affection is bestowed on certain people we choose and typically is something that benefits us or makes us feel good.

The last few weeks in my alone time, I have felt God press on my heart “love.”  I’ve experienced the love as defined by Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, however, I felt there was more to “love,” then just that.

Through the last few days, I see little hints of God speaking to me about love. Sometimes there will be something mentioned in my devotion that day on love, or the verse that day is on love, or when I listen to Joyce Meyer, she’s teaching on Love.  This is not an everyday occurrence, however, this has been happening consistently since I’ve felt God place love on my heart.

I hate to admit it, but the more I learn about love, the more I realize that I lack love in my active life.  I mean, there is more to love other than the definition provided by Merriam-Webster’s dictionary. Love is not just a word but it’s an action. Love is not just linked to our heart but also to our mind and soul.  I believe what we have at the root of our heart, mind and soul, our words and actions will in turn reflect that.

I don’t think I will be able to go into detail on everything I’m learning about this topic because, to be honest, I’m still learning.  The more I learn the more I realize I don’t know.  It’s like, although I learned a new truth on the matter, another door opens that contributes to that content. I then walk through that door and learn something else.

If you ask me right this minute to define love in one one, I would have to say unselfishness.

Unselfishness may seem foreign to some, especially in a culture that has become so “self-focused.”  I mean the term selfie didn’t even exist 10 years ago.  However, if we look back to our infant years, one can see a consistent pattern of being self-focused (regardless of how amazing our parents were).  For example, I had a hard time learning to share my toys with my younger sister as a child.  Why? Because they were mine.  I didn’t want her getting them dirty. I couldn’t trust her, but I could trust me. I couldn’t share because I couldn’t trust. I was closing a part of my heart to her because of fear.  I didn’t want her to make a mess or break something of mine.

I believe love is unselfish but it begins at the root of our heart and thinking. Maybe you need to learn to love yourself, trust yourself, but LOVE is very much connected to everything. I’m still learning to love.  However, I will say that the more I learn of God’s love, the more I am beginning to learn to love a little more unselfishly.

I encourage you to read 1 Corinthians 13…Really read it, study it, I pray that it open your eyes just like it does mine every time!

Love- a daughter of Christ learning Love