AN EXPOSÉ ON LOVE

The other night I was chatting with a friend of mine on the phone; you know, general talk, how was your day, the excitement of the year end and all that. At the end of the conversation, I was like okay time to go to bed, and we exchanged our usual goodbyes… I love you... I love you too, followed by... don't forget to tell Jesus you Love Him before you close your eyes and all that. Yeah I am mushy like that… ! After putting down my telephone handset, I mused over the end of our converstaion and over that favourite word we all utter at a drop of a hat and the same word that we are eager to hear others say to us.... The word "LOVE" .

I thought, it's quite a unique word, for we use it in different contexts, in different situations and scenarios! We say "I love you" to our friends, our husbands, wives, mothers, fathers, brother & sisters, even to the strangers on the street!!!

And thus, a question comes forth. "Do we really know the meaning or the origin or the intricacies of this same LOVE that we speak off"? Now that's got your attention hasn't it?
Well those were my thoughts then, and then a few mornings afterwards, I opened the good ole book, the Bible, and found myself in 1 John 4:16 "And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him".

We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in His love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.
Now, look at part b of that passage - It says "God is Love"!! So, I'm thinking the definition of Love is God and God is the definition of Love! So I'm thinking even more... when we say we Love someone, we mean we love them with "God's love" right? You with me so far?

Now a step further… what are the characteristics of God's love? According to 1 Corinthians 13: 4 - 7, the characteristics of God's love is as follows:

Love is patient and Kind
Love is not Jealous, boastful, proud or rude
Love does not demand it's own way
It is not irritable
Love keeps no record of being wronged
Love does not rejoice about injustice
Love NEVER gives up
Love NEVER loses faith
Love is ALWAYS hopeful and
Love endures through every circumstance

What a revelation huh? As our God is beautiful, and so are the ingredients of His Love.But then I guess they are bound to be beautiful, for He is Love afterall!! So then, if we, as a people truly understood the meaning and weight of that word "LOVE", I believe we would not throw it around in such an idle manner! It would not pass our lips, like a kiss in the wind! It is too precious to be treated as such!

I also believe that if we truly embrace all that love entails, we will take hold and realise that when we utter words such as " I LOVE YOU", it means we are saying and confirming all the beautiful things that love is about. Oh yes! There will be people who will do their best to display or convey other emotions and call it or brand it love. But it is important to remember that love is pure and clean, it does not harbour any nastiness and there is no darkness in it's aura!

On that note, here is me encouraging us, to embrace the meanings, realities and blessings, that the beautiful gift of love represents.

Today, tell someone you love them , with assurance that you know and understand the meaning behind that very word - LOVE. Have a great day loving one another, whilst making God famous along the way.

Much love..
Remi

Echoes of Love

The essence of love…
can be found
in a quiet rumour
over the phone lines

The intricacies of love…
is the discovery
of a sacred open secret

The purpose of love…
is its very reason

The courage of love…
is embracing the unknown
propelled the assurance
of its silent coverage

Remi Banjo
©January 2007