Love

For years I have cast this day as a Hallmark holiday, a holiday started as a marketing ploy.  And for many years it worked.  The price of flowers, candy, and cards all increases around this date every year, and yet people keep falling for it.  I have declared that I should be showing my love every day, not on a date that initially started as a day honoring a saint, but then turned into a huge profit for companies everywhere.  Even restaurants join in the marketing scheme.  Saint Valentine was executed because he refused to denounce his faith.  Now that is love.

All my life, I have been brought up in a family and home surrounded by love.  I have been fortunate. There are many individuals that aren't necessarily surrounded by the love that I was.  One of the greatest bible verses tells us that Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others......  But what does all of this mean?  After all, the "Golden Rule" tells us to love our neighbors as ourselves.

So, with all this information, who should we love, what should we love, how do we love?

These are all tough questions with even tougher answers.  If we all live a life of love, then we will love all.  We will love our family.  We will love our friends.  We will love our acquaintances, and even those we dislike.  That's when it gets tough, we are suppose to love those we dislike.  Many of us love money and what it can do for us.  But we are also told not to love false gods, which is exactly what  the love of money and power is.  Some people are blessed with wealth, but what are they doing with that wealth.  Are they blessing others or are they hoarding to themselves.

How do we love?  Will Smith said it best, "10 ways to love: listen, speak, give, pray, answer, share, enjoy, trust, forgive, promise."  These are great.  Some are a challenge.  Take listen for example.  Sometimes all it takes to show love is simply listening to what someone has to say.  Of all these, I put pray at the top.  Think of the love that Jesus had for all of us.  He sacrificed his own life, so that we may have ours.  Man, that is love.

So tomorrow, when you feel yourself getting angry, choose love.  When you feel greedy, choose love. When you feel jealousy, choose love.  In every circumstance, choose to love and I guarantee the rewards will be bountiful.