On Love

   Love never gives up. 

   Love cares more for others than for self. 

   Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. 

   Love doesn't strut, 

   Doesn't have a swelled head, 

   Doesn't force itself on others, 

   Isn't always "me first," 

   Doesn't fly off the handle, 

   Doesn't keep score of the sins of others, 

   Doesn't revel when others grovel, 

   Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, 

   Puts up with anything, 

   Trusts God always, 

   Always looks for the best, 

   Never looks back, 

   But keeps going to the end.

(1 Corinthians 13:4-7, The Message)

This has always been one of my favorite verses, and I remember learning the Chinese version of it through a song. I've known this verse since childhood, but how often do I put it into practice? The hopeless romantic side of me keeps thinking that love is a feeling. That love is that sweet rush of butterflies in your stomach when that special someone looks at you, hugs you, kisses you, etc.

When we love, we always strive to become better than we are. When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.
-Paulo Coelho

Not quite. Love is more than just emotion. Love is a verb. Love is an action. Love is sacrifice. Love is serving others, possibly at a cost to the self. We need to show love. We need to care, and show concern. God gave us feelings and emotions, but feelings and emotions are not meant to stand alone. Feelings and emotions come and go. We may feel sad or angry for a time, but it does not last forever. Likewise, we may not feel love all the time. Love is a choice. It is something that we may not always feel, but it is something that we should be consciously choosing all the time. When we love, we become better people. We feel better too. And when we strive to become better, everything becomes better. The world becomes a better place.

Christ said, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13, NIV). Christ is the ultimate example of love. He came down to earth and paid the ultimate price for all our sins. He died a sinners death on the cross for us, rising again 3 days later. God is love. God sacrificed His only beloved Son for us. In the Bible, God always showed His love through actions - healing, blessings, miracles, forgiveness etc. God shows us His love. God has given us the capacity to love. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31, NIV). Love is the greatest commandment.

Love someone when they least deserve it, for that is when they need it the most.