The True Meaning Of Love

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Valentine’s Day is almost here! When most people think about Valentine’s Day they think about pretty cards, hearts, candy, and flowers. Valentine’s Day is the day of love. I love receiving chocolates, flowers, beautiful cards and gifts. I also love expressing my affection for my husband and children. My favorite color is pink. And…I’m a romantic at heart so naturally, Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite holidays.

Have you ever stopped to think about what it really means to love someone? To look at God’s definition of real love, I opened up to 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 in the New International Version Bible. Here’s what it says:

⁴Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love is patient. Am I patient with my husband? Do I easily get annoyed when things don’t go exactly my way? Do I get angry when I ask my husband to do something and he doesn’t jump up right that instant to do it? Do I take the time to help my child learn a new task or just quickly do it for them instead of having a teachable moment?

Love is kind. Am I more kind to strangers at church than to my family, especially my husband? Am I kind to my husband when we do something he wants to do and I don’t? Do I make snarky comments when I’m annoyed? Do I express kindness to my children when we’re late and someone decides it’s time to go to the bathroom or needs help putting on a coat?

Love does not envy. Do I wish my husband was more like one of my friend’s husbands? Do I wish that my children had qualities like someone else’s child?

Love does not boast. Do I spend my time posting on Facebook about all the great things my kids and husband are doing but hide any weakness?

Love is not proud. Am I afraid to share how my child is really doing in school because I’m ashamed?

Love does not dishonor others. Do I try to mold my husband into being someone who he isn’t? Do I make my child take part in sports or other activities even though she hates it? Do I shame my child to get him to do what I want?

Love is not self-seeking. Do I avoid spending time with my child playing a game simply because I don’t want to? Do I put my wants before my husbands?

Love is not easily angered. Am I a ticking time bomb? Does my family have to be careful not to set mom off? Do I spend more time being angry at my spouse than being nice?

Love keeps no records of wrong doings. Do I bring up the same mistake my husband made 5 years ago every time we have an argument? Do I keep a mental list of everything that he has done wrong so when we argue I can bring it up? Do I focus more on what my kids do wrong instead of what they do right?

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. Do I focus on what is true about my husband and children or do I spend my time thinking about “what if my husband…”

Love protects. Do I protect my husband’s integrity when I talk to others about him? God has given me 5 beautiful children, am I keeping them safe?

Love trusts. Do I trust my husband? Do I believe my husband? Do I keep my children’s secrets or do I share them and bring shame to my child?

Love hopes. Do I have a positive attitude with my husband and children and hope and believe in their dreams or do I dread what is to come?

Love perseveres. Do I look forward to our future or focus on the present problems in my marriage.

This is how we are told to express our love. Not with chocolates. Not with teddy bears. Not with flowers. Loving someone means so much more!

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Jenny N Love Valentines Day

Jenny

Hi! I’m Jenny! I grew up on a farm in between the 2 small towns of North Loup and Scotia, Nebraska. I spent my childhood chasing cattle, laying out irrigation pipe, bottle feeding bucket calves and racing turtles at Popcorn Days. My husband, Jason and I live on a farm south of Kearney and I am blessed to be a stay at home mom to 5 energetic kids and wife to my favorite farmer! Our oldest daughter is 11, our boy/girl twins are 7, our son is 5 and youngest daughter is 3. I created my blog, Women With Intention (http://womenwithintention.com) where you will find tools for living your purpose, managing your home, saving money, simplifying, growing your faith, loving your family and relationships, and embracing the season of life you are in. I believe that each woman can have it all, but not necessarily have it all at the same time! I'd love to connect at my blog, Facebook (http://facebook.com/womenwithintention1), Pinterest (pinterest.com/womenwithintent) or Twitter (@womenwithintent).

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