All You Need Is Love . . .

Every time I look at this beautiful gift from God, I am reminded of the most important concept and that is love. I try to never use this word lightly, but it happens nonetheless. We get used to saying "I love you" to our children, spouses, parents, and friends, and this is fantastic. If you truly mean it when you say it, I can't think of a better thing to say to someone. Even when we say "I love you" out of habit, for instance when we are hurrying off the phone or running out the door, the meaning is still there because when we don't say it, even in these rushed circumstances, it's noticed. When I'm leaving for work in the morning, and frustrated either because I've spilled something on me or my IPOD has frozen for the millionth time, sometimes I catch myself just shouting a "Bye" to my husband instead of our usual "See you later. Have a good day. I love you." As a result, my morning turns into complete crap and I inevitably call my husband when I've gotten to work safely and apologize for my poor attitude and forgetting to tell him that I love him.
A week ago, I did a "Kids Korner" at church on love, not just the importance of it in general, but also how we're supposed to love each other. Though at times it seems impossible, I believe that God wants us to love each other unconditionally...without rules, without conditions, and without expecting something in return. I used a few subjects as examples of this when I was trying to explain it to the children. When we love our friends, do we put conditions on that love? For instance, do we say "Ok, I'll be your friend and I'll love you, but you have to call me every week." Absolutely not. We're supposed to love our friends for who they are, not for what they can do for us. Now don't get me wrong. I've got some fantastic friends and family members who have done some wonderful things and favors for me, but I wouldn't love them any less if they hadn't done these things. Same goes for our spouses. Did I agree to love my husband under the conditions that he would take the trash out and keep the lawn neat and tidy? Absolutely not. I love him just because he is who he is. The chores are just a perk :) LOL I like to believe that we all have the ability somewhere inside of us to love everyone unconditionally simply because that is what God wants us to do. For that is how he loves us. But I do know one group of little people that we should have no trouble loving unconditionally...our children. The word "love" developed a whole new meaning when I had Caroline. For the first time in my life, I really understood the concept of loving someone unconditionally. She made me appreciate what it truly means to love someone that way. I caught a glimmer of this appreciation when I held my very first niece, Audrey...and the glimmer grew with my second niece, Maddie. But the glimmer shot into the sky like a lightening bolt when Caroline was born. It took a little while to kick in because when you become a new parent, it is quite a shock to your system. Sometimes it takes a little while to realize that you are not in a dream or having an out of body experience, and that you are actually in the presence of the greatest responsibility you will ever have. And the greatest love. Though they may do things or behave in ways from time to time I may not particularly like, there is and never will be a thing in this world that my child or my nieces (that's three nieces now...welcome baby Adelyn!) could do that would make me love them any less. And now that they have taught me that, and with tons of help from God, I can understand what it really means to truly love others in my life unconditionally as well! Tiny as they are, they have had a HUGE influence in my life, and I LOVE them for it!
I've been closing each of my latest blog postings with a chosen Bible verse. The verse at the end of this posting has very special meaning to me. It was a favorite chapter of my "Pawpaw", and it makes me smile to think of my brother and the way he stood reading it for everyone at my wedding. It may be a little long, but the meaning and inspiration it brings is so great!

"And Now I will show you the best way of all. I may speak in different languages of people or even angels. But if I do not have love, I am only a noisy bell or crashing cymbal. I may have the gift of prophecy. I may understand all the secret things of God and have all knowledge, and I may have faith so great I can move mountains. But even with all these things, if I do not have love, then I am nothing. I may give away everything I have, and I may even give my body as an offering to be burned. But I gain nothing if I do not have love. Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous, it does not brag, and it is not proud. Love is not rude, is not selfish, and does not get upset with others. Love does not count up wrongs that have been done. Love is not happy with evil but is happy with the truth. Love patiently accepts all things. It always trusts, always hopes, and always remains strong. Love never ends. These are gifts of the prophecy, but they will be ended. There are gifts of speaking in different languages, but those gifts will stop. There is the gift of knowledge, but it will come to an end. The reason is that our knowledge and our ability to prophesy are not perfect. But when perfection comes, the things that are not perfect will end. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I stopped those childish ways. It is the same with us. Now we see a dim reflection, as if we were looking into a mirror, but then we shall see clearly. Now I know only a part, but then I will know fully, as God has known me. So these three things continue forever: faith, hope, and love. And the greatest of these is love." -1 Corinthians 13

Have a fantastic week, everyone! And take it from Caroline...don't forget to love!

...and the greatest of these is love!"