Valentine's Day means love. Love. When you hear the word, what does it means? Most people have heard "Love is patient, love is kind..." which is the beginning part of the beautiful and complete description in the Bible (1 Corinthians 13:4-13). It is not possible to improve upon those verses.
Love, by definition, is very personal. Today, which is all about love, conjures up different meanings and emotions in people.
I am one of the lucky stiffs in this world. I have a lovely wife, healthy and beautiful children, and supportive friends. I am surrounded by an abundance of love. Of course, I must keep reminding myself as daily problems wear me down so easily.
Today is a day both for celebration and reflection. A day for joy. A day for introspection. On this day I focus on the power and meaning of love. Even though I hear of love in church every Sunday, today epitomizes and symbolizes the special, enduring romantic kind that we don't often discuss there.
Love embodies our highest hopes and shows the complete and total connection between two people that is uplifting, inspiring, and liberating. It tells us about the possible promise of our spirit. It proves that the sum is greater than the parts. It exudes pure, unrelenting freedom that is countenanced by nearly unimaginable personal fulfillment.
Love is beautiful. To love is challenging and demanding. To be loved is fulfilling and affirming. But do not confuse love with admiration, which is inert. You can admire someone without doing anything. To love you must act. It is behavior, manifested by actions which we control. We can give, receive, or withhold. It is our choice.
As I reflect, I see four aspects of love. When I think about love's gifts that I receive, I know I should be ever vigilant in pursuing, cultivating, and practicing them myself.
Love is life-sustaining, not limiting. It is food that nourishes our soul and makes us grow. It provides energy to move and compels us to chase impossible dreams.
LOve is obliging, not overbearing. It accommodates our moods and whims. It comforts and undergirds us in times of sorrow, deep despair and need.
LoVe is valuing, not violating. It is treasuring a person in a manner that no object or possession can be treasured. It is awe and reverence. It is knowing and believing in miracles.
LovE is encouraging, not evaluating. It exhorts us and makes impossible dreams possible. It propels us to do that which we would not or could not ordinarily do.
How can we show love today to that very special person? Will our actions rightly express the depth and breadth of our feelings? Will our meager gestures be adequate?
When we love, we do not compete. This is not a contest where we must exceed last year's performance with an even greater and grander show. But we worry. How will my love know that my feelings are real, deep and abiding?
What we do is important, but so is how we do it. Your love will know how you feel by how you act.
Whatever you do, do it from the heart. The rest will take care of itself.
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Fred W. Apelquist, III, M.Ed.
Approximately 530 words.
(c) 1995