Monday, February 13, 2017

Why Limit to One Day a Year?




Valentine’s Day is 100% a Hallmark holiday.  My son rolls his eyes at the attempt of various products to display love on Valentine’s Day.  From heart-shaped marshmallows to bouquets of flowers, consumers can find thousands of ways to express love for another. 

Why one day of the year?  Why expressed through food?  Why save a date night for February 14th

What if EVERY day were treated as Valentine’s Day?  What if EVERY day we worked to express the love felt for another?  What if. . .?

Growing up, I cannot remember the words spoken in our home or hugs being shared.  I viewed love as work.  I understood love as a constant seeking approval of the other person.  If disappointment came, then the other person would not love me.  I worked for years to receive love by pleasing others.
 
A crazy cycle began and continued for years.  I worked for love.  If failure to receive, I shamed myself and worked to ‘fix’ the problem.  If success occurred, I walked in pride and continued to do for the other. 

The craziness stopped when I hit rock bottom.  I could not recognize the one staring back in the mirror.  I transformed Sheree to fit the needs of others in hopes to be loved.  I had the process completely wrong and thus hated myself. 

Love is expressing it to another.  Love is embracing one another daily.  Love is placing another’s needs above your own.  Love is serving one another.  Love is spending time with one another. 

Love cannot be used as an ultimatum.  Love cannot be one sided.  Love cannot be spoken void of expression.  Love must be shared. 

I married an individual full of patience.  My husband walked alongside while I learned what love meant and how to experience it.  My husband loves wholeheartedly always.  He will not hesitate to wrap his arms around me regardless of outward appearance.  He loves daily. 





 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.  John 4:7-10

How do we learn love?  Seek Him Who is Love!  We should love everyday just like God.  Read His Truths and learn what love in action looks like.  We should love endlessly and reveal His presence in our lives.  We should provide enough love that when we leave this Earth, others will have enough to last them until we meet again.  The memories left behind will bring a smile to our loved one’s face. 

Love in action: Listen attentively – Offer time – Validate feelings – Encourage daily!

Listen with full attention given to the speaker.  Hone in on every word to reach an understanding of the other’s thoughts, feelings and stories.   

Offer time in the schedule to spend next to a loved one.  Show the other how important they stand in your life by giving time.  Without a second thought, we fill our calendar with ‘worldly’ activities or say yes to all positions presented; yet, we find it hard to give time to loved ones. 

Validate the other’s feelings in a matter even if yours differ.  Each allowed to express feelings, forms a bond, builds trust and begins a relationship that cannot be broken. 

Encourage one another at every opportunity.  Walking in marriage, parenting, friendship or any other relationship can become tiring.  Encouragement keeps the flame burning.  God asks us to encourage and pray for one another daily. 

It’s MONDAY!  Who needs LOVE today?

Live life. . .One Day at a time! 

Sheree Craig   

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