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We should practice giving the kind of love we expect from others
We are all searching for love. Every single one of us. But I think only a few of us understand the gravity of loving someone. We can't fully grasp the concept of love. Maybe that is the reason why we have dysfunction with our partners, families, and friendships.
Even those who think they have found love find themselves struggling. They are wondering if they love is it meaningful and fulfilling?
I think the rush of feelings and infatuation can feel a lot like love. But the problem with this type of love is that the feeling doesn't last very long. In fact, it is so easily disreputable because it depends on the circumstances.
I find that the concept of love is rather complicated. When I feel selfish, I find myself battling with the idea.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life," John 3:16.
Furthermore, the word of God has also broken down the elements of Love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. : Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hope, and always perseveres.
One of the most outstanding qualities of love is that it is selfless. It gives without expecting anything in return. It is not a feeling, but it is an act that we must learn to practice every single day.
Instead of seeking love, maybe we should give it more. We should practice giving the kind of love we expect from others. We need to know how to exhibit the qualities of love to others first because this is how we become more like Christ.
God’s love for us is perfect, and He also instructs us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves and to forgive our brother as much as He has forgiven us.
It is hard to forgive and love people who have hurt us. But it is when we look at people with the same compassion God looks at us with and understand the gift of love and forgiveness that he has bestowed upon us that we begin to operate as loved and forgiven people.
If you truly understand God’s love for you, you will know how to love people around you unconditionally.
Yes, some of them don’t deserve it, so do you? You didn’t deserve the love of God, then why do you want people to work for your love?
You are not perfect, but God still loves you anyway. Why do you want other people to perfect in order to earn your love?
Why is it hard for you to forgive and chose to love people in spite of your hurt because you continually disappoint and hurt God but He never withdraws His love from you?
God gave you free will, to do whatever your heart desires. But even if you mess up He still loves you, then why do you want to possess people you claim you love?
People say love hurts, but it’s because you have not loved right.
We expect too much from people, we want to find love without giving any of it back. We try to change people to be what we want them to be, but if we just loved them instead of trying to change them- they will change because they want to, not because they want to earn your love and that kind of change is permanent.
We get hurt because we expect too much from people and if we didn’t, we will understand that as we did wrong to God, people will do us wrong. But like God, you chose to forgive and just love. If they don’t give that love back, it doesn’t matter because you already have enough of it from God.
God loved you first and because of his overwhelming love, you decided to give in and love Him back. The more He loved you, the more you gave yourself to Him. There is no fear, no doubt because you knew you were secure and you know that no matter how much you did or didn’t do, He can never take His love away from you. Because of His love, you always seek ways of pleasing Him. You automatically want to change and give back.
I am not saying be stupid and naïve. Guard your heart always.
"But I am only human". But if you know God and you understand that you can only truly love others because He is in you. It requires no effort from you, you just make a choice and this will just be an extension of who God is in your life.
It will be God-loving your family, husband, friends, and enemies through you, especially when your own feelings fail as they do so often.