This scripture from the Bible was read at our wedding by my sister. It is so beautifully & eloquently written, that I figured I would start with it first before I move on to my own thoughts on love.
“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing”.
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres”.
“Love never fails. . . And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:1-8 and 13
I found this scripture and video on Paul & Layne’s Relationship Savvy Blog
This video clip shows the love that this father has for his son & how it is realized and reciprocated at the end of the video.
Love. Where to start. Hmmmm…
There are so many types of love starting with loving yourself, life, your mate, family, friends, humanity, beauty etc. To be able to feel love is a wondrous and glorious feeling; truly amazing! To not know love would be the cruelest tragedy to ever hear of. I have never experienced anyone in my life who has not known love or who has not loved but rather of people who have been hurt by love and therefore close themselves off from giving and receiving love. That is the real tragedy. By giving and receiving love, you are always exposed to the risk of being hurt. However, it is from these experiences and how you deal with them as to how you grow as a person. Loving someone can be so beautiful as well as painful. I think part of the real challenge with love is to be able to learn to love unconditionally. To be able to love without restraints. To accept people for who they are; not what you want them to be. As well as having people love and accept you for who you are.
As I am learning during the course of my life thus far; love is not boxed and packaged in a way that fits each of us individually. It is something that is always evolving to newer and deeper heights. Something that I believe I have learned from my mom (and she always strives for this) is to always find the good in people no matter how hard it might be. In this way, we look for new ways to continue to love someone. This is for any type of relationship, whether they are husband/wife, life partners, siblings, children, family, friends etc. People, in general, end up giving up on each other and holding grudges which is why there appears to be so much hatred in this world as well. We decide that this person no longer fits into our little world and instead of trying to work things out or move on in our lives (being thankful for the experience of knowing that person & the lessons in your life that they provided for you), we turn to hate because it is always easier to find the faults of someone and blame them, than it is to see the good in them and continue to love them.
You have heard of the expression “wear your heart on your sleeve?” Well, that is me plain and simple! I have a hard time knowing how to “guard” my heart. However, I no longer see this as a flaw. I am grateful that I can love and it comes easier for me than other people. I realize that there is more exposure to possible hurt yet, on the other hand, I am more open to find the inner beauty in people possibly more readily than others who do not let themselves get hurt. To me, it is all a part of the journey of life. To always “guard your heart”, may be a missed opportunity on some of the most beautiful relationships in their life.
It has taken me nearly most of my life to be able to learn to love myself as a person and for who I am and a leap of faith to know that I have beautiful qualities about me to offer people. Additionally, it has taken me just as long to learn how to “live and let go” and love life. I had for many years believed that I must have done something horribly wrong in another life to be dealt the “crappy” hand of life that I thought I had. Now I know that it is all in how you look at things in life. I realized that I am truly blessed in love with the most beautiful family and friends in life that some people never had the fortune of having.
As such, my life feels so much better and I feel so much freer and more at peace with myself to know I can say that I love myself, my life and everyone and everything in my life. It has taken me quite awhile to learn how to let go of the past and all the unimportant things that have never really mattered. Although it is something that I am continually working at and I am sure it will take time and daily practice to truly “live and let live” but at least I have begun the process.
I believe that if everyone kept in mind 1 Corinthians 13:1-8 and 13…I am sure that this world would be a more beautiful and peaceful place to be. However, I cannot concern myself about how other people choose to live and love their life. I only have control over me and my thoughts and actions. I choose love in all aspects of my life. If nothing else, I know that I will always be rich in love which truly makes the richest of life!
My husband sent me this link for this Youtube video with a song by Bon Jovi called “Thank You For Loving Me”. A truly inspirational and beautiful song full of thankfulness and gratitude for couples in love.
To everyone I have in my life…Thank you for loving me for the person I am and continue to be.
Listen and enjoy!
Another link to a Youtube video sent to me by my husband. A truly inspirational song by Martina McBride called “Anyway” – Find out what you are passionate about in life and do it because you can! Because you love! Because it will make you feel good!
Tom Said:
on October 16, 2009 at 10:15 pm
Truly inspirational…great job. It’s funny how you can spend most of your life trying to find the meaning of it…but I think you just have…