What is love?

So what exactly is love, anyway?
And why is the word used so freely if it's supposed to be a serious thing?


To be completely honest, we all probably have our own opinion on that. Which could be one reason that the word is so overrated in our culture. The word itself is just a word. I'm mean, come on, it's just a word!
Or....................is it?
Either way, it's what the word represents that holds the significance. And believe me, the word represents something different to each of us. The sad thing is, in society today (especially the U.S.), it has become something that fifth graders doodle in their text books, a reason for another special day on the calendar, like Valentines Day, and the word used for advertisements on a bunch of dating sites.
Wow, pretty pathetic, right?


But if you're at all like me and my family, the word goes a little deeper than that. Which brings me to the whole point. For some people, it's more than just a word. It's how we feel about our family and friends, it's the reason we spend so much money around the holidays, and it has to be something we have experienced. See, we each have the ability to love others, but only to the point that we have experienced love from someone else. That's why so many people have messed up pictures of what love is.


Have you ever seen a toddler just flipping out at the checkout line next to you because the mom just told him he can't have that candy bar? Most of us would find this comical and just laugh, but behind all of that there is something very serious going on. As adults, we have hopefully already been taught that life isn't all about us. But to a two year old, he's still learning. But just think about it for a moment. 


Each of us used to be that way. And maybe we still are. What's the difference between screaming for a candy bar, and yelling at your mom or your spouse because dinner wasn't ready? 
Both situations are based on rights. So maybe we all are still learning.... 
Real love isn't based on conditions. But until an individual has experienced unconditional love, it can't be given. So as you go about your day, think about what love means to you. 


This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.-1 John 4:10(NLT)


But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.-Romans 5:8(NKJV)


Comment on your thoughts and look for my next post, coming soon.