"No one has ever seen God.
But if we love each other,
God lives in us, and his
love is truly in our hearts." (CEV)
God imparts a simple principle to us: to give, you must first receive. Afterwards, you can freely give what you have been given. We have all been given the greatest gift of all: Love.
God created people to love, to share love in a relationship with him. He deposited his creative power within everyone, to express this love to mankind near and far. There are a variety of expressions of love - physical affection, kind & encouraging words, philanthropy, shared knowledge, cultural, artistic and innovative gifts, sacrificial service & patience, a sense of acceptance & belonging, acts of justice and forgiveness and sometimes even temporary disharmony for the sake of a greater unity later. The list could go on. But from the beginning of time to recent history, people have expressed love for mankind by creating a space for healing, progress and for survival during times of struggle.
Love is a precious gift, from the heart of God, and I refuse to live without it. Neither hate, fear nor pain can take its place. I won't be distracted nor enticed to give it up. It is my life source. If others' love grows colder, love must burn brighter still in you and me. No one can extinguish love because love is an enduring and powerful force that will never end.
There's been a lot of pain, suffering and frustration expressed in America lately, and most could justify their own soapbox. Yet, there is a need to share and express the love of God with everyone, right in the middle of our troubled times. Oh, to be free to create a space of safety and nourishment! I believe we can express this through art, through poetry.
So this week we're posting differently. Today is about widening a space for love in our hearts and encouraging love in the lives of others. May our challenges, disagreements and hot debates still be motivated by love as we work towards equity and a better society. With this month's topic, To Be Free...we are sharing prose about love and freedom.
To Be Free…to Love, Forgive, Embrace and Accept
Love, in spite of human flaws
Forgive, betrayal and rejection
Embrace and Accept Myself and Others
For who we are
Because of the Creator and Judge of all.
always in need.
It’s a paradox, some fight for it
Try to hoard it, store it up
Some refuse to give it, Others spurn it.
Unconditional love is hard,
But worth it.
Desperately needed
Duly noted, often toted
And rarely lived.
always in need.
It’s a paradox, some fight for it
Try to hoard it, store it up
Some refuse to give it, Others spurn it.
Unconditional love is hard,
But worth it.
Desperately needed
Duly noted, often toted
And rarely lived.
You can’t subtract from it, it only multiplies.
Nothing can kill it, though you can frustrate it a little.
Love flies in the face of fear and lies,
It just never dies...Love
It’s possible, clever, powerful
It’s the truth
Whenever and Wherever it does live,
it's Forever.
Nothing can kill it, though you can frustrate it a little.
Love flies in the face of fear and lies,
It just never dies...Love
It’s possible, clever, powerful
It’s the truth
Whenever and Wherever it does live,
it's Forever.
You can mistreat it, but you cannot delete it.
Love freely received; Love freely given.
LOVE- Such a tough subject to put into words! I admire your comprehensive summary and expressions. It gives me so much to think about as I re-read and re-meditate on your words. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteJ. Melson