Love

Love.

When I was tasked with writing this entry about love and what it means to me, I was instantly like “I’m about to write this in 30 minutes or less; I’m freshly married, I know what love is”. 30 minutes turned to three days, which then turned to almost two weeks later. I had to seriously pray about what love truly means to me, because its more than just a feeling or action. It really is a culmination of so many emotions, thoughts and actions – both mentally and physically.

I know what it feels like to be in love romantically. Having the “goosies” or butterflies when you’re with or think about that special person, wanting to be around them as much as possible. Having someone you can share your intimate thoughts and ideas with as well as be your true self in their presence. It’s a feeling that I believe most of us ultimately long for, without realizing love is work.

Entering my first full year of marriage in November has greatly changed and challenged me to think bigger than my original thinking of what I thought love and even marriage entailed. It has truly required more of God and less of me. From arguments, to knowing when you’re wrong and need to apologize, thinking of someone else’s feelings before your own at times, communicating and sharing feelings, showing affection and being attentive – the list could keep going.

All of my rambling brings me to several key points. Love is not just one thing, one feeling or expression. It’s a combination of understanding, forgiveness acceptance and trust. Without any of these things, how would a relationship thrive? Not just a romantic relationship, but even with friends or family members. Realizing that the people you love do have flaws and do make mistakes, opens a larger window to give love, let the best you shine and be accepting.

In this, I can only think of this being how God sees all of us. Oh, so imperfect, but loveable in the same breath. I think of all of the questionable things I’ve said and done, and in those times where I’ve felt most alone, how He has picked me up, shown me different ways of thinking and being, allowed me to look at life with a different perspective and through it all LOVED me is enough to bring me to tears. Being loved in times when you don’t know how to love yourself is nothing short of a blessing from God. If we could remove so much of our own egos and habits, the love we could share with each other can be so grand and so sincere.

So, what is love to me? It’s removing the walls that my circumstances have caused me to put up and allowing myself to share that same love that God has for me with people I encounter daily. Starting with family and friends and letting that bleed over into the harder areas such as work. I challenge you to try to understand those around you on a deeper level, forgive those who’ve hurt you, accept the people around you for who they are, and allow yourself to be more trusting. I believe the word love will mean so much more in the end. #wepreach