What is love? Is it a feeling? An idea? Can it even fully be grasped or explained? I know that God is love. I know that His love is too deep, and far, and wide to even fathom. But what about romantic love? I know the bible says that love is patient and kind. That is is not angry, or rude or jealous or boastful. That it rejoices in the truth. That love protects, trusts, hopes and perseveres. It never fails. Love covers a multitude of sins. It is said to be stronger than death. We are to love with actions and in truth. Alright, so I guess that answered my first question. But now I propose another: What does it mean to love someone?
Besides the aforementioned explanations of love, I have some personal thoughts on the matter. I believe that love is accepting someone as they are right at this moment. All of them. Period. It doesn’t mean that you love their bad qualities, it just means that you accept them. It is accepting their past and looking forward to their future. It is about supporting and respecting that person, placing their needs above your own. It is wanting the best for someone, even if you do not gain anything yourself. Love is also a feeling. It is when you care so much about something that there is no other word to describe the way you feel. It is often difficult to explain. It’s that feeling deep down in your soul or the pit of your stomach. But it is not simply a feeling. Nor is it a word that should be tossed around haphazardly. That feeling has to be accompanied with what is written in the Bible. It has to be backed up with what your head tells you as well. Your heart and your head must agree.
Love is laughter. Love is selfless and pure. Love is caring for another deeply and tenderly. Love is thinking of someone often, without obsessing. Love is missing the other when you are apart. Love is wanting to share in good times and bad; in trials as well as accomplishments. It is encouraging and serving one another. Love is wanting to do nice things for each other, for no reason at all. It is caring about each other’s happiness. Love is a sacrifice and a partnership; it is giving up your needs for another’s, and having them do the same. It is give and take. It is overcoming obstacles and helping one another. Love is seeing the best in each other. Love is being able to be vulnerable, to share your deepest thoughts without fear of rejection. Love is being content and feeling at peace in each other’s presence. It is being satisfied just sitting in silence with one another, doing nothing at all. Love is listening. Love is forgiving. Love leaves a lot of room for grace. Love is a choice and a commitment. Love is a risk. It is putting your heart on the line and being completely vulnerable and transparent. Yes, it is a pretty great risk. But being loved in return has to be the greatest feeling in the world. I mean, God talks about the importance of love over and over again in the Bible. And God IS love. So by loving someone, we are actually growing closer to God. So, I say, take the risk.
-Karly Roberts
Showing posts with label Lovely. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lovely. Show all posts
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Sunday, April 22, 2012
When My Heart Is Overwhelmed
Our resolution today in the face of difficulty: I will rejoice greatly in the Lord, My soul will exult in my God.
-Isaiah 61:10
Monday, April 16, 2012
Life Lessons
Written by Regina Brett, 90 years old. This is something we should all read at least once a week!
"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most requested column I've ever written.” My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:
01. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
02. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
03. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Change the way you think.
04. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and family will. Stay in touch.
05. Pay off your credit cards every month.
06. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
07. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
08. Release your children when they become adults, it’s their life now.
09. Save for retirement starting with your first pay check.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye.
16. Take a deep breath It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Just because you believe you are right, doesn't mean you are. Keep an open mind.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. Your job is to love your children, not choose who they should love.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come...
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield..
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."
"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most requested column I've ever written.” My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:
01. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
02. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
03. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Change the way you think.
04. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and family will. Stay in touch.
05. Pay off your credit cards every month.
06. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
07. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
08. Release your children when they become adults, it’s their life now.
09. Save for retirement starting with your first pay check.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye.
16. Take a deep breath It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Just because you believe you are right, doesn't mean you are. Keep an open mind.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. Your job is to love your children, not choose who they should love.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come...
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield..
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Friday, April 13, 2012
Monday, April 9, 2012
Love Defined by Little People
I work with kindergartners, ages 4-6. Their understanding of love and their ability to love absolutely anyone is so amazing. I wish we could stay that way as humans forever. It would make the world a much happier place.
Click here for some perfect definitions of love.
Friday, April 6, 2012
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Psalm 112
Hallelujah! Blessed man, blessed woman, who fear God,
Who cherish and relish his commandments,
Their children robust on the earth,
And the homes of the upright—how blessed!
And the homes of the upright—how blessed!
Their houses brim with wealth
And a generosity that never runs dry.
Sunrise breaks through the darkness for good people—
God's grace and mercy and justice!
The good person is generous and lends lavishly;
No shuffling or stumbling around for this one,
And a generosity that never runs dry.
Sunrise breaks through the darkness for good people—
God's grace and mercy and justice!
The good person is generous and lends lavishly;
No shuffling or stumbling around for this one,
But a sterling and solid and lasting reputation.
Unfazed by rumor and gossip,
Heart ready, trusting in God,
Spirit firm, unperturbed,
Ever blessed, relaxed among enemies,
They lavish gifts on the poor—
A generosity that goes on, and on, and on.
An honored life! A beautiful life!
Someone wicked takes one look and rages,
Blusters away but ends up speechless.
There's nothing to the dreams of the wicked. Nothing.
Unfazed by rumor and gossip,
Heart ready, trusting in God,
Spirit firm, unperturbed,
Ever blessed, relaxed among enemies,
They lavish gifts on the poor—
A generosity that goes on, and on, and on.
An honored life! A beautiful life!
Someone wicked takes one look and rages,
Blusters away but ends up speechless.
There's nothing to the dreams of the wicked. Nothing.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Keep Me
Keep Me Sweet, Lord
Lord, you know better than I know myself that I am growing older and will someday be old. Keep me from getting talkative, particularly from the fatal habit of thinking that I must say something on every subject and on every occasion.
Release me from craving to straighten out everybody's affairs. Make me thoughtful, but not moody; helpful, but not bossy. With my vast store of wisdom it seems a pity not to use it all, but you know, Lord, that I want a few friends at the end. Keep my mind from the recital of endless details- give me wings to come to the point.
I ask for grace enough to listen to the tales of others' pains. Seal my lips on my own aches and pains- they are increasing, and my love of rehearsing them is becoming sweeter as the years go by. Help me to endure them with patience.
I dare not ask for improved memory, but for a growing humility and a lessing cocksureness when my memory seems to clash with the memories of others. Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally it is possible that I may be mistaken.
Keep me reasonably sweet. I do not want to be a saint- some of them are so hard to live with- but a sour old woman is one of the crowning works of the devil.
Give me the ability to see good things in unexpected places, and talents in unexpected people. And give me, O Lord, the grace to tell them so.
-Written by an anonymous seventeenth-century nun
Lord, you know better than I know myself that I am growing older and will someday be old. Keep me from getting talkative, particularly from the fatal habit of thinking that I must say something on every subject and on every occasion.
Release me from craving to straighten out everybody's affairs. Make me thoughtful, but not moody; helpful, but not bossy. With my vast store of wisdom it seems a pity not to use it all, but you know, Lord, that I want a few friends at the end. Keep my mind from the recital of endless details- give me wings to come to the point.
I ask for grace enough to listen to the tales of others' pains. Seal my lips on my own aches and pains- they are increasing, and my love of rehearsing them is becoming sweeter as the years go by. Help me to endure them with patience.
I dare not ask for improved memory, but for a growing humility and a lessing cocksureness when my memory seems to clash with the memories of others. Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally it is possible that I may be mistaken.
Keep me reasonably sweet. I do not want to be a saint- some of them are so hard to live with- but a sour old woman is one of the crowning works of the devil.
Give me the ability to see good things in unexpected places, and talents in unexpected people. And give me, O Lord, the grace to tell them so.
-Written by an anonymous seventeenth-century nun
Charm is deceptive,
and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord
is to be praised.
Proverbs 31:30
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Stumbled Upon
Perhaps one of the neatest blogs I have ever blog hopped to. I wish with all my might that I may have one as half as awesome as theirs some day with my husband. (Which means we would go to all those amazing places as well.)
check it:
http://mrmrsglobetrot.blogspot.com/
check it:
http://mrmrsglobetrot.blogspot.com/
Sunday, March 11, 2012
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