Love is a choice.
God is Love... We have all heard this statement before and may feel ambivalent to its meaning. However, when we dive into the height and length of God's love, it can truly revolutionize our view of who we are and how deeply we are loved.
God's love does not rebuke (Zephaniah 3:17)
His love calls us children of God (1 John 3:1)
His love waits patiently (Rev 3:20)
His love endures forever (Psalm 136:26)
He loves us despite our sin (Romans 5:8)
His love saves! (John 3:16)
God offers His love freely and doesn't require our love in return, therefore our love should model this example.
Is our love conditional on the behavior of the other person?
Do we withhold love from someone who doesn't do exactly what we expect or ask of them?
Do we easily forgive?
Do we love despite someone's flaws?
Loving someone and accepting their love in return is a choice that we make daily. Whether it is a child, husband/wife, or friend, true love goes beyond the "warm and fuzzy" moments and makes the conscious effort to make the most of every encounter with that person. Expressing love, and its converse of hate, is a choice that we make.
When you wake up in the morning, do you immediately feel love for your significant other? Likely not.... We would like to challenge you to approach every day with your loved ones as a choice and a chance to share the love that God has so graciously given to you.
Here are some practical ways to live this out with your loved ones:
Ask about their day and listen - put away your phone and other distractions and listen to them.
Let grace be your default instead of anger - this can take some time to develop! When you feel yourself getting angry because of a situation, create a strategy to calm your emotions and give yourself the space to respond thoughtfully rather than reacting impulsively.
Learn their Love Language and make a conscious effort to express affection in ways that resonate with them.
Create a daily habit with your loved one - a goodbye or hello ritual that reminds you both of your love for one another will strengthen your bond.
Allocate time for others – whether it's a special evening with your partner or individual quality time with each child. Creating moments for one-on-one interactions communicates their significance to you and provides a meaningful opportunity to bond.
