Love Is More Than Just A Word

WHAT DOES LOVE MEAN?

A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds: “What does love mean?”

The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined. See what you think…

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“When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn’t bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That’s love.”

Rebecca – age 8

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“When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.”

Billy – age 4

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“Love is what makes you smile when you’re tired.”

Terri – age 4

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“Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK.”

Danny – age 7

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“Love is what’s in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.”

Bobby – age 7 (Wow!)

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“If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate.”

Nikka – age 6 (we need a few million more Nikka’s on this planet)

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“Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.”

Tommy – age 6

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“During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling.

He was the only one doing that. I wasn’t scared anymore.”

Cindy – age 8

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“Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken.”

Elaine – age 5

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“Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day.”

Mary Ann – age 4

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“When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you.” (what an image!)

Karen – age 7

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You really shouldn’t say ‘I love you’ unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget.”

Jessica – age 8

Don’t you just love the innocence of a child? Their hearts are so pure and they feel and experience life through a unique lens. 

And it is a good reminder to us too that LOVE IS MORE THAN JUST A WORD, it is an action. It’s the dynamic, living embodiment of the commandment “love your neighbor as yourself.” Someone once said that love is the rhythm of giving that sets the beat of our collective heart. It is music in motion. When we act out of love, when we give freely of ourselves, we align with the Divine – the Ultimate Giver, who is love (partakers of the divine nature 2 Peter 1:4)

Do you ever find yourself asking, “What is love?” Most likely, you ask because you’re unsure if you are loved, or if you are even capable of truly loving others. This uncertainty is a call to action – a divine nudge reminding you to manifest your love, to act it out, to ‘do’ love.

Luke 10:25-37 NIV

On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”“You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

LOVE IS MORE THAN JUST A WORD

Ephesians 2:1-10 CEV

2:1 In the past you were dead because you sinned and fought against God. ² You followed the ways of this world and obeyed the devil. He rules the world, and his spirit has power over everyone who doesn’t obey God. ³ Once we were also ruled by the selfish desires of our bodies and minds. We had made God angry, and we were going to be punished like everyone else.

^4-5 But God was merciful! We were dead because of our sins, but God loved us so much he made us alive with Christ, and God’s gift of undeserved grace is what saves you. ⁶ God raised us from death to life with Christ Jesus, and he has given us a place beside Christ in heaven. ⁷ God did this so in the future world he could show how truly good and kind he is to us because of what Christ Jesus has done. ⁸ You were saved by faith in God, who treats us much better than we deserve.^[a] This is God’s gift to you, and not anything you have done on your own. ⁹ It isn’t something you have earned, so there is nothing you can brag about. ¹⁰ God planned for us to do good things and to live as he has always wanted us to live. This is why he sent Christ to make us what we are.

LOVE IS MORE THAN JUST A WORD, it is an action of the heart, the oil that makes the One Body run smooth, the heart of God, the healer of a broken heart, the badge of Christianity, the foundation of creation, the medicine and remedy for all people and nations everywhere. It is closer than life itself because it is who God is. He doesn’t have to try to “be loving” because He Is Love! That is what we all need!