Is over-rated.
Like Christmas, this lovely holiday had been totally commercialized.
The premise is good.
Set one day aside to let the people you love know that you love them.
But here's my question.
Shouldn't that happen every day?
Why the pressure for flowers and chocolates?
Is love supposed to be measured in such a mundane, selfish way?
Love is not warm gooey feelings.
Real Love is gritty.
Down in the dirt.
Painful, even, if you are doing it right.
Because real Love is sacrificial.
Putting the other persons needs ahead of your own.
And that doesn't always feel nice.
In fact, it rarely does.
Like Christmas, this lovely holiday had been totally commercialized.
The premise is good.
Set one day aside to let the people you love know that you love them.
But here's my question.
Shouldn't that happen every day?
Why the pressure for flowers and chocolates?
Is love supposed to be measured in such a mundane, selfish way?
Love is not warm gooey feelings.
Real Love is gritty.
Down in the dirt.
Painful, even, if you are doing it right.
Because real Love is sacrificial.
Putting the other persons needs ahead of your own.
And that doesn't always feel nice.
In fact, it rarely does.
1Corinthians 13 is the "love" chapter.
It is well known.
I think because it is well known, people, at least I,
don't think about it,
really
think about what it means.
We are called to love one another as Christ loved the Church.
How did Jesus love the church?
Enough to die a horrible death,
that He did not deserve,
for people who fail Him daily.
Fail Him every minute.
And who are unfaithful to Him.
Do we love like that?
Do we unconditionally love those that fail us, repeatedly?
Do we love them, even if they act like we aren't important?
I know I don't.
I wall myself up in my nice cocoon of self protection,
and resist opening up.
To really love.
I want to.
I want to get to the nitty-gritty
down in the dirt love.
What greater example do I have then my Saviour?
It is well known.
I think because it is well known, people, at least I,
don't think about it,
really
think about what it means.
We are called to love one another as Christ loved the Church.
How did Jesus love the church?
Enough to die a horrible death,
that He did not deserve,
for people who fail Him daily.
Fail Him every minute.
And who are unfaithful to Him.
Do we love like that?
Do we unconditionally love those that fail us, repeatedly?
Do we love them, even if they act like we aren't important?
I know I don't.
I wall myself up in my nice cocoon of self protection,
and resist opening up.
To really love.
I want to.
I want to get to the nitty-gritty
down in the dirt love.
What greater example do I have then my Saviour?
I want to memorize this passage, (actually the whole chapter).
It is encouraging, I think.
We know what the greatest thing is.
The secret is revealed.
And so this Valentines Day,
I am going to focus on what love really is.
Not a warm gooey feeling.
I am going to focus on what love really is.
Not a warm gooey feeling.
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8Love never fails.
Great post! The passage is a great one also.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reminder of what love is.
No goo here. ;) Can't stand goo. :D
ReplyDeleteYep, goo is for LLLLOOOOSSSEEERRSS. ;p
ReplyDeleteWell, I LIKE goo.
ReplyDeleteDon't get it, but I still like it.
You could melt me away with a box of chocolates (gluten-free, corn-free, soy-free) or some flowers.
I know it's silly. I also know that you're right, Heather, about what love really is.
But I am also vaguely disappointed. So there.
Yes, but you prove my point.
ReplyDeleteIf Dad was to love you sacrificially, he'd give you some goo, knowing that you need it, even though he doesn't need/want any.
It's not a post against goo, it's against that being all there is.