In 1966, Dionne Warwick released a song entitled “What the World Needs Now Is Love.” Though the song is over 50 years old, the message is still relevant. We hear so many mixed messages about love in the world. Some are distorted and conditional. Love is defined as a a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person, a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or friend. Many of us know this type of Love firsthand because we are the product of it (in most cases) or we’ve been nurtured in it over time.
Unfortunately, as we grow up and leave the safety of our homegrown Love, we experience the tainted, conditional, manipulative love masquerading as Love. Words like If you love me, then you wouldn’t do that — are conditional and manipulative. We’ve all done it. Those words just ooze out of our mouths before we can pull them back in or wipe them away.
For those who know and love the Lord, you have experienced a deep, wholesome, unending, consuming Love that can’t be matched by anything here on Earth. Because of his abiding Love for us, he expects that we, too, will love others with all that we have.
9 Your love must be real. Hate what is evil, and hold on to what is good. 10 Love each other like brothers and sisters. Give each other more honor than you want for yourselves. 11 Do not be lazy but work hard, serving the Lord with all your heart. 12 Be joyful because you have hope. Be patient when trouble comes, and pray at all times. 13 Share with God’s people who need help. Bring strangers in need into your homes. ~Romans 12:9-13
Loving those who love us back is easy. What about those who don’t love us back? What about those who aren’t warm and fuzzy? We all have a few prickly folks in our lives who we try to avoid. How do we face them? With Love. That’s the simple answer. The behavior is the hard part. Just like anything new, it must be repeated again and again before it becomes routine. If you begin to struggle with Loving others, consider how much the Father Loves you. He woke you up this morning, and he really didn’t have to do so. He doesn’t owe us anything, but we owe him our lives. Remember who you’re living for, and the Love (uppercase) will follow. May blessings abound! <3
“Loving those who love us back is easy. What about those who don’t love us back?” EX…ACTLY! Many times we want to go the easy route. However, love from the heart requires reaching out in ways that may be uncomfortable. But any action that’s met with love is bound to work out just fine.
Amen, Sis! How have you been?
Well, thanks!
There are messages that are timeless and love is not only timeless but the only message. Loving those who don’t love us can be trying, but I’ve come to realize that it’s still better to love them than to be filled with hate.
morning miss michelle. 🙂
Good morning, Jim! 😀