What Is Love?



In this world, we grow up learning much about love by watching our parents, tv shows and movies, and also by the books we read.

I think I was disenchanted and confused about love as a young girl. I didn’t see my parents show much love and affection in front of me. They struggled like many marriages today to communicate well with one another. Often hurtful words were said to wound the other. Though I knew they loved me.

My parents often showed love to me through quality time. I can remember many nights before I went to bed, I would ask my Dad if he wanted to play a game with me. Many times he said yes and we’d play a game of Chutes and Ladders or Candy Land. This ministered to me deeply and made me feel loved.

One day, I came home from elementary school with a bad grade. My Mom could tell by my long face that I wasn’t doing well. That afternoon she sat me down at the kitchen table and gave me a cookie. Then she listened to me share about my sadness. My Mom wiped my tears and and consoled me. This communicated a great deal of love and care.

Time went on and I saw many movies and shows that displayed affection and love. One particular movie that spoke to me positively as a teenager was called, The Karate Kid. It’s about a boy who is uprooted from his home. He moves to California with his mom. He is bullied and treated poorly by other teens. The boy meets an older man who maintains and fixes broken things in the apartment complex. This man takes a special interest in the boy who is struggling with transition, friendships, and feels like his life is threatened by bullies. He becomes his friend, a Father figure, and his karate teacher.

Years passed and I turned 20. This is when I first began to comprehend God’s Love! It was a game changer. Before that time, I didn’t understand that God loved me unconditionally. I didn’t have to be perfect or do or say all the right things. I finally grasped for the very first time that God loved and accepted me no matter what. He was for me, had great plans for me, and knew me better than even those very close to me. God accepted all my flaws, inadequacies and bad days. This was life altering for me. Remember, no one can love us better than God!! Knowing His great love for me drew me to want to commit my life to God.

What views have shaped your thinking about love? Do you look longingly for love from the world? Have you met God, the lover of your soul? The One who knows you intimately, loves you deeply, and accepts all your flaws and bad days? He is always there waiting for you to accept His free gift of salvation and love. “For God so LOVED the world that He gave His one and only Son that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” God is a giver! He gave us His one and only beloved Son so that we could have a love relationship with Him, a meaningful life on earth and a forever life with Him in heaven. Wow!!! Let’s not only receive God’s love but give His love away freely without charge or expectation of any return. LOVE is an extravagant gift!! ❤️