The Many Faces of Love

For a moment, think of the faces of people in your life who have truly loved you. We recently celebrated a day to honor mothers. If you are/were fortunate to have a mother who loved and nurtured you, it is an enjoyable day, and memories are sweet.  If that isn’t the case for you, think of someone else: perhaps a grandma, an aunt, a sister, a friend, a teacher, a coach.  Someone who took the time and effort  to make you feel special and loved.  

What was it about that person (their attitudes, behaviors, demeanors) that made you feel good about yourself, or showed you that they cared about you in a genuine way?  It is so important to focus on the qualities of people who leave a positive impact on others.  Why are they the way they are? What motivates them? 

I love the image used for this entry.  Perhaps, the picture should be titled “The Many Facets of Love”. However, that would simply make it a language arts exercise: finding as many descriptive words as possible.  What makes these words resonate are the faces that put flesh to these descriptors.

A familiar passage often quoted on this topic is, I Corinthians 13: 1-13.  Click on this reference to read the whole passage.

A key principle that I find interesting is not only what love IS, but what love IS NOT.  Sometimes, it is those attitudes or actions that we have to take to heart.  For example, love is the “not saying something you feel like saying”, or “not bragging”, or “not being resentful”.  The words above and in the passage give us many of the positives of how best to interact with others.  It is always wise to focus on the positive role models you have in your life.  But if you are like me, there may be a few of the what “not to do’s” that need some attention as well.  As I wrote in my last entry (“Dilemma: Will I Envy or Encourage”, May 3, 2016)  it is so important to seek the Lord’s grace as this is hard.  “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Heb. 4:16,  ESV)  Realizing that we have not “arrived”, and that we are all in process, each day gives us new opportunities to grow in that grace.  One day we will see Christ face to face, and then what joy it will be to experience that love in its completeness!

Image Source:https://pixabay.com/en/love-presence-mindfulness-loving-618238/