~Love

 What is it to truly love? Is loving someone simply putting up with them, overlooking their faults maybe?

   I say I love people. I love my family. But do I show it. I once heard someone say that 

“Saying I love you is like saying: 

I will never intentionally hurt you. 

I will always do what is best for you. 

I want you to be everything God wants you to be.”

  I don’t believe you truly love someone when you feel you have to put up with them. Love isn’t a burden. It’s a gift from God that we are privileged to share. God gave His absolute best for each and every one of us. That should be our model.

  But then people aren’t perfect so sometimes they will do things that annoy us. Right then we need to stop and ask ourselves: who are we focusing on? Love doesn’t focus on itself, it focuses on the needs of others.

  Love also doesn’t overlook sin. How could it? Could love truly look at a person’s life and say “I know what you are doing is a violation to God. I know that it is separating you from God, and I know that it could send you to hell, but I won‘t say anything because I don‘t want to offend you.”  No.

   So how much do you love those around you?    

  Is your love real or just a convenient replacement?