What Is Love?

Valentines week is a time to express love for each other in many ways.  It is a time to embrace what love means and appreciate others.  Some may celebrate with a dinner out, a trip to the spa, or some flowers, while others do something extra special for someone.  

Years ago, when my daughters were just toddlers, I had a favorite book that I would read to them called “What Is Love."  My parents received it from my cousin; his daughter is an artist and the illustrator for this book.  This book is a beautiful reminder that love is simple, and anyone can embrace it, from kids to adults. 

“What is Love” is the question that it asks repeatedly.  Can you see it?  Can you feel it?  Can you touch it?  Can you hear it?  And, all of these questions can be answered with a big “Yes." 

Sometimes bringing back a lesson that we used to teach our kids can remind us of important things that we overlook and maybe even take for granted.  We forget that we can express our love in many ways, but sometimes the little ways can significantly impact us. 

Love is the smile you get when you do something nice for someone.  Love is the smell of a meal cooked specially for you by someone who cares.  Love is that sweet embrace and the sound of laughter between friends.  Love is all around us in the big and little things.

This particular book's actual point is that Love is God and God is everywhere, always and forever.  If you look for it, you will see that love is in the beauty of the earth and the people we surround ourselves with every day.

One of my favorite bible verses is in 1 Corinthians 13, "love is patient, love is kind.  It does not envy; it does not boast.  It is not proud.  It does not dishonor others; it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails.”

We don’t need to wait until Valentine's week to express it; in fact, we speak it in the little things we do every day without even knowing it.  Love is the most powerful word, thought, and expression that we have, which leads us to our best and most beautifulife.   

My affirmation for you this week is:

“Love is what inspires me to be my best every day, and I will continue to give it away freely."