Loving Is….
Loving
is a verb. Love is a noun. The art of loving is a whole sentence, a
lifetime. When I was a child I learned a Bible verse of just three
words, God is love.
Whoever
does not love does not know God, because God is love.
I John 4:8 Understanding that verse has been a long time in coming.
is a verb. Love is a noun. The art of loving is a whole sentence, a
lifetime. When I was a child I learned a Bible verse of just three
words, God is love.
Whoever
does not love does not know God, because God is love.
I John 4:8 Understanding that verse has been a long time in coming.
A
lyricist penned these words….Love is a many splendored thing….
These words only touched one facet of love. Love is an
unfathomable, eternal mystery that cannot be explained or
comprehended in this world. Books have been written that try to
plumb the depths of this thing we call love.
lyricist penned these words….Love is a many splendored thing….
These words only touched one facet of love. Love is an
unfathomable, eternal mystery that cannot be explained or
comprehended in this world. Books have been written that try to
plumb the depths of this thing we call love.
As
a child, I watched the love between my Dad and Mom…the kind that
weathers every storm and rejoices in holding hands and sharing. As a
teen, a friend observed, “Do your parents often hold hands like
that while they are walking?” There they were, oblivious to their
surroundings, talking and holding hands. Then, it was an
embarrassment, but now it is a celebration, a model of what love is
that lasted for more than 50 years.
a child, I watched the love between my Dad and Mom…the kind that
weathers every storm and rejoices in holding hands and sharing. As a
teen, a friend observed, “Do your parents often hold hands like
that while they are walking?” There they were, oblivious to their
surroundings, talking and holding hands. Then, it was an
embarrassment, but now it is a celebration, a model of what love is
that lasted for more than 50 years.
A
few years later, I met the love of my life, and the lessons of loving
began in earnest. After the first two weeks of our marriage, I wrote
my mother an impassioned letter declaring that now I knew what love
was and I was deeply in love with my husband. Mother, always the
realist, suggested gently that I had just begun. She was so right.
Our love multiplied with the gift from God of four children in rapid
succession. God kept one of the first-born twins for Himself, and
filled my arms and my heart with other babies, Dan, Paul, Tim and
Anna. Those little ones brought laughter into our lives as we
watched with wonder all their ‘firsts’, their learning and becoming
parents, making their way in this world.
few years later, I met the love of my life, and the lessons of loving
began in earnest. After the first two weeks of our marriage, I wrote
my mother an impassioned letter declaring that now I knew what love
was and I was deeply in love with my husband. Mother, always the
realist, suggested gently that I had just begun. She was so right.
Our love multiplied with the gift from God of four children in rapid
succession. God kept one of the first-born twins for Himself, and
filled my arms and my heart with other babies, Dan, Paul, Tim and
Anna. Those little ones brought laughter into our lives as we
watched with wonder all their ‘firsts’, their learning and becoming
parents, making their way in this world.
As
each one left home and found their mates, our nest was emptied,
perhaps, I thought, my work has ended. But that wasn’t so. Twelve
times we welcomed a grandchild into this world. Our parental work
continued, one generation removed, I learned that these little ones
needed prayer and love and encouragement. And now God has added
seven great grandchildren. His blessings continue. I learned the
truism – “Parenting is not a sometimes thing, but a forever
blessing.”
each one left home and found their mates, our nest was emptied,
perhaps, I thought, my work has ended. But that wasn’t so. Twelve
times we welcomed a grandchild into this world. Our parental work
continued, one generation removed, I learned that these little ones
needed prayer and love and encouragement. And now God has added
seven great grandchildren. His blessings continue. I learned the
truism – “Parenting is not a sometimes thing, but a forever
blessing.”
The
elasticity of love creates room for more children, more grandchildren
and more great grandchildren. But there is more to this love. As I
read and see through various social media, my former students of 31
years marry and have children. I rejoice in each little one that is
born and pray for the child and the parents. There are church family
children that grow up and marry. Love stretches and grows to include
all of them. There is nothing more delightful than a new baby.
elasticity of love creates room for more children, more grandchildren
and more great grandchildren. But there is more to this love. As I
read and see through various social media, my former students of 31
years marry and have children. I rejoice in each little one that is
born and pray for the child and the parents. There are church family
children that grow up and marry. Love stretches and grows to include
all of them. There is nothing more delightful than a new baby.
Another
lyricist, Cole Porter, wrote –
I
saw you there one wonderful day, You took my heart and threw it away,
That’s why I ask the Lord in Heaven above, What is this thing called
love?
lyricist, Cole Porter, wrote –
I
saw you there one wonderful day, You took my heart and threw it away,
That’s why I ask the Lord in Heaven above, What is this thing called
love?
Cole Porter knew who had the
answer…. for God is love! All love begins in Him and ends in
HaShem (The Name). After 83 years on this earth, I am beginning to
learn the breadth, the depth and the width of the facets of love on
earth. How do we recognize love? There are shining reflective sides
to love, just as the jeweler shapes a diamond to reflect light, we
reflect the delight of love in such qualities as truth, hope,
respect, joy, gentleness, kindness, goodness, patience, self-control
and sacrifice. Each quality comes together and becomes a union of
true love.
answer…. for God is love! All love begins in Him and ends in
HaShem (The Name). After 83 years on this earth, I am beginning to
learn the breadth, the depth and the width of the facets of love on
earth. How do we recognize love? There are shining reflective sides
to love, just as the jeweler shapes a diamond to reflect light, we
reflect the delight of love in such qualities as truth, hope,
respect, joy, gentleness, kindness, goodness, patience, self-control
and sacrifice. Each quality comes together and becomes a union of
true love.
“I
am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in
darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 2:8b These
are the words of Jesus.
am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in
darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 2:8b These
are the words of Jesus.
Jesus
answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to
the Father except through me. John 14:6
answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to
the Father except through me. John 14:6
God’s love is unconditional, it is
not what we do, but whose we are, that makes us loved by God. But
whoever loves God is known by God. I Corinthians 8:3. When we
are young, we give our hearts to our parents, and then at our later
age, we decide that we want to be independent of our parents and
choose our own way. Acceptance of truth is a step to gaining wisdom.
When I realized and accepted the truth that I went from obeying my
parents and my husband, and it was a learning time to obey God, the
desire to be my own person melted away because of the joy of serving.
not what we do, but whose we are, that makes us loved by God. But
whoever loves God is known by God. I Corinthians 8:3. When we
are young, we give our hearts to our parents, and then at our later
age, we decide that we want to be independent of our parents and
choose our own way. Acceptance of truth is a step to gaining wisdom.
When I realized and accepted the truth that I went from obeying my
parents and my husband, and it was a learning time to obey God, the
desire to be my own person melted away because of the joy of serving.
A friend often teaches and lives the
J-O-Y principle for happiness. Jesus – first, Others – second and
Yourself – last.
J-O-Y principle for happiness. Jesus – first, Others – second and
Yourself – last.
A young child accepts the outpouring
of love from his mother and father as his due and without question.
And as the child continues, basking in love, he is learning about a
relationship with God and His love in our lives.
of love from his mother and father as his due and without question.
And as the child continues, basking in love, he is learning about a
relationship with God and His love in our lives.
But
because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
Ephesians 2:4
because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
Ephesians 2:4
Dear
friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone
who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love
does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his
love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we
might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that
he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one
another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God
lives in us and his love is made complete in us. I John 4:7-12
friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone
who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love
does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his
love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we
might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that
he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one
another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God
lives in us and his love is made complete in us. I John 4:7-12
Beautiful, Emily!
Beautiful, Emily!