What's this....Love??

     Miguel asks Dooooo youuuu stillll believe in love!? Looking at today’s generation, the simplest answer would appear to be no; however, I would have to answer yes. In a time where relationships are frequented as much as drive-throughs and a significant other is only this month’s featured film, I still believe in the notion of love. How or why? Simple, because Jesus existed, and God is love.
     I Corinthians 13:4-7 defines love as being "patient and kind; it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no records of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." This is the type of love God has sent into the world and this is the kind of love I try to demonstrate. Many people ask why I'm single and it's simply because I have not found a man who loves the way God intended us to. Unconditionally.
     Both sets of my parents have been married for over twenty years and although I’m certain they’ve wanted to kill each other more than they’ve wanted to share the same bed, they’ve been able to tough it out because of love. I’m not talking about the overtly romanticized love that one sees in the movies. Their love for God allows them to express wholly their love for one another and their love for their family. Because of this love, they understand what it means to be committed to their union. Because of their love, I understand what it means to be committed to Heavenly Papa and myself.
     For me being committed to Heavenly Papa and myself is to continuously try to spread love throughout the world because one never knows the impact a kind act may have on someone else’s life. It means to live a life without fear because “Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.” (1 John 4:18 NLT)  It means to live in continuous faith because knowing that I serve an awesome Heavenly Papa, at the end of all my days, everything will be okay. Regardless of any hardships, all of my unions will be blessed and the love I put into the earth will be reciprocated. It means that I must be kind to those who have no interest in being kind to me. It means I must have a heart like Martin, or better yet…Jesus.
     This transformation has been essential to my well-being. Without this type of love, I’d be stressed out, worn out, twerked out, and potentially strung out on worldly possessions. I’d be chasing the wrong type of love, manipulating situations to create a temporary presence in my mind that this is what love is. I’d love money, bags, cars, clothes, and any man that could pipe me down and give me those things.  I’d be another guppy in the wave of life waiting to be consumed by the next big fish, ending up someone’s breakfast, never reaching my full potential.