“Where there is love, there is life.” Mahatma Gandhi
Happy Monday!
I hope you had a lovely weekend and spent some time relaxing! It was Super Bowl Sunday in the USA, and maybe some friends caught the football fever worldwide. It’s fun to hang out with friends and family, as long as tempers don’t flare when the other team scores!
When my parents were still alive, my mom always rooted for the underdog, no matter who they were. She’d decide to cheer for the less popular team, and there were many occasions when she correctly predicted the outcome. I don’t think she really had any idea what was going on. She just loved to mix things up. It was all in good and loving fun.
The end of this week is Valentine’s Day, a time when we celebrate our loving relationships and take a moment to appreciate our romantic partners. While it can be a challenging day for some who may find themselves without partners for various reasons, it remains an opportunity to acknowledge the love we share with others. Having a partner is not necessarily a prerequisite for appreciating and celebrating the love present in our lives and the joy we experience with those around us.
There are lots of reasons why love is essential to us. It’s life-giving, offers us opportunities to express our gratitude to those who reciprocate our affections, and assists with gaining perspective in the larger canvas of life. Loving is something we’re created for and, when expressed appropriately, provides affirmation and value to others.
Someone who championed love was Mahatma Gandhi. As a political ethicist, Gandhi advocated for truth and justice through nonviolent resistance that upheld the dignity of others through love. He wrote the following:
As mentioned earlier, love is undeniably life-giving. We often observe its positive effects in our daily lives. Moreover, those of us in helping professions strive to show unconditional love and respect toward the individuals we work with, even when we may not feel particularly loving. Loving is an aspiration for us. Sometimes it’s easy; other times, not so much.
Sometimes, we take extraordinary measures to express our love, especially during distressing events. The efforts of first responders and the many teams mobilized during the recent fires in SoCal are prime examples of demonstrating love in challenging situations. The actions of others often inspire reflection and gratitude within us, particularly when they make intentional choices to offer their help and expertise.
Here are a few verses in Scripture that come to mind in reflecting on love:
“Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.Love never fails.” I Corinthians 13:4-8 (NKJV)
“Let all that you do be done in love.” I Corinthians 16:14 (ESV)
“Love should be shown without pretending. Hate evil and hold on to what is good.” Romans 12:9 (CEB)
“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear…” I John 4:18a (NKJV)
We express our love in various ways. Sometimes, circumstances lead us to share quietly, while at other times, we are bold and unapologetic in our declarations of love. We show our love through acts of service and in ways that others can understand, not just romantically. We listen to stories that are difficult to share, hold the hands of those in physical pain, and offer a shoulder to comfort those grappling with tough emotions.
As we celebrate love this week, let’s remember to be intentional in our expressions, to be kind and generous with our affections and regard, and to reach beyond our comfort zones to help someone else feel loved and appreciated. It will surely be worth the effort as we aim to fill someone else’s cup. We may never know the angels we’re entertaining when there is love!
Happy Valentine’s Day!
Be Well & Be Blessed!
Lucinda
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