LOVE
WoW! Relationships, right?! Not always an easy thing to navigate. How do we go about the business of giving and receiving love? Well, the following is the guidance I have received from the Lord. I hope this information will be a blessing to you the way it has been for me:
1. Put yourself in a “space” to receive love. (“space” meaning attitude as well as environment) Attitude = be open to receive love from others, including and especially from the Lord. Environment = don’t isolate yourself. You need to be with others to receive love from others. You’ll see in step 5 the importance of spending time with the Lord. Take everything to the Lord and open your heart to Him so He may send His healing love to you. It is the most therapeutic thing you can do.
2. Put yourself in a “space” to give love. St. Francis of Assisi stated, “For it is in giving that we receive.” God has used this in my life several times. When I feel depressed and drained – the Holy Spirit will prompt me to give love to another. It may be a simple act of kindness – and it works! It helps turn my mood around. Giving to another is a reward in itself. Not only are we designed to receive, but also to give. When we look to our Lord, what do we see? Self-less giving. We are to model after Jesus – and when we do, His love shines through!
3. Take the opportunity to give and receive love. You can move out of opportunities – don’t do that. For example: avoiding love, looking elsewhere for love, chasing after someone for love. Be in the moment — love who’s in front of you. (I’m not talking about romantic love, but love in general. We are called to “love one another”). Are you fully loving the people who are currently in your life?
4. Take advantage of the opportunity you have been given to love. Don’t let distractions keep you from love. For example, the loss you’re feeling from a friendship that has become distant. You allow your mind to continue to focus on your loss – in doing so; you miss the opportunity to experience love in the present moment. Other distractions may come from “the world” like being more tuned in to your email, videos, sports scores, social media, etc. – that make you miss out on the people who are right in front of you.
5. Fill your “cup” with God’s love. To have love to pour out, first go to God and fill your cup. If you pour out love without first receiving love from God, you can get depleted. Keep returning to God, continually filling up so that you have love to pour out to others.
How do you fill-up? A few suggestions: go to Him in silence. Be still. Experience Him in quiet reflection. Connect with Him through music, art, dancing, or praying. Connect with Him through your breath (meditating on breathing in His love) or connect with Him through nature. There are many ways to connect, and some methods may suit you better than others. Do whatever helps you “get there.” We are all built differently, so we may connect with Him and fill up with His love in different ways, and that is entirely okay.
What does Jesus have to say about love?
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “‘ Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40