{Day 141}

They are three words that are spoken too often and not enough.  “I love you.”  We say we love this dinner or that store and then turn around and say I love you to a person.  Are they the same love or have we just become lax in our thinking?  What is true love?  I know…big question right.  Yet I think everyone is looking for it in one form or another.  I believe that true love is sacrificial.  It is putting someone else’s needs before your own.  It is bearing hurt to keep reaching out to someone who doesn’t care how you feel.  It is taking the time to serve another person when you could be doing something a lot more fun.  It is laying down our lives.  Can we do this?  No.  Before you get depressed let me tell you though that there is hope.  We can love like this if we know the One who is love.  Jesus showed true love when he sacrificed his whole life for his enemies.  Enemies!!! The very ones who nailed him to a cross, who mocked him, who tested him every day of his life, well these were the ones he came for.  Not perfect people.  He came for me, an imperfect person.  He came for you.  When he said “I love you” he not only meant it but he showed it.  If we surrender to that love then we will be able to turn around and truly love others.  But until we do that we will just keep longing.  Longing to know where true love lies.  It doesn’t lie in clothing, money, or fame.  Should we stop saying “I love you” just because we don’t have pure love for others?  No, but let us be willing to give our lives for others because we first have been loved by Jesus.

P.S.  I love this tunic type shirt/cardigan because my brother had it made for me as a Christmas present.  It was so thoughtful and sweet of him. 🙂  Also I’m not sure how I’m going to take pictures outside since the rain is going to set in really soon…they might all have to be in this spot since it is slightly covered.  (Yes it was raining when we took this.)