A few weeks ago at church, one of the members came down to give the children’s sermon. He began by asking the kids to tell him what love was. The general response was about how their mommies and daddies love them. I thought it was a pretty good answer, but for some reason, it really stuck with me. So, I would like to share a few definitions with you. And since I “love” movies, that’s where I will start.
“Affection is when you see someone’s strengths; love is when you accept someone’s flaws.” – One Day
"I heard once that love is friendship on fire." - Adam, The Perfect Man
"Love means never having to say you're sorry." - Love Story
“Love is like the wind, you can’t see it but you can feel it.” – Landon, A Walk to Remember
“Love is putting someone else’s needs before yours.” – Olaf, Frozen
“I finally understood what true love meant…love meant that you care for another person’s happiness more than your own, no matter how painful the choices you face might be.” – John, Dear John
Since I’m talking about definitions, I have to give at least one example from a dictionary. This one comes from dictionary.com: “a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or friend.”
Our children’s sermon leader gave this example from the bible: “4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” – 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
As you can see here, love has many meanings. Whatever love means to you, the important thing is to spread it. This doesn’t mean you have to reach 1,000 people each day. Simply reaching out to those around you can make a huge impact. I know this isn’t the easiest thing to do. It can be hard when someone is just really challenging you. I struggle with it myself. Just remember that love is like a contagious disease. Sharing it with others causes them to pass it along.
For our greatest commandment is to love.
Matthew 22:36-40 “36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”