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"I am love to you."


Love is a great motivator.  It causes us to behave in certain ways towards people.  It causes us to risk our hearts, and can even cause us to risk our lives.  If we ever wonder whether or not we truly love someone, we could ask ourselves, "would I die for him/her?"  If the answer is, "in a heartbeat," then yes, it really is love.  If we are not sure, then it is possible that we are holding something of ourselves back, in reserve.  By holding back, we are "hedging our bets," which means we hope to survive the relationship, no matter what.  Live through it.  So, we certainly would not die for our beloved.  Our lives and hearts are more important to us, in that case.
    As Jesus Christ says:
    "Greater love has noone than this: that he lay down his life for his friends."
And if we love someone to the point that we would die for them, can we not also live for them?  If we are willing to lay down our lives for their sake, sacrificing something less should be a piece of cake.  How ridiculous would it be to hear, "sure, I’d die for you honey, but I’m keeping my TV remote?"
    And as Saint John wrote:
    "We ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.  If anyone has material possessions, and sees his brother in need, but has no pity on him,  how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and in truth."
I have found that an open-handed policy in human relationships is very successful and rewarding.  By this, I mean only when we stop holding tightly on to what we have, that our hands are also free to receive.  Maybe ten years ago, I really felt in need.  So much so, that I felt that I didn’t have anything to spare.  I didn’t give, I needed people to give to me.  But, I never received anything.  My soul only got more shriveled up.  This was because I was focused on my own lack, and trying to get other people to fill it for me.

Finally, I realized that the only way for me to live, was to give love.  I didn’t have much ability, but I gave all I had.  That way, I became the conduit of love, and as it was blessing other people, I was blessed by love, too.  Not merely because some loved in return, either.  The love that I possessed for them, nourished me.  Because, for love to be fully experienced, it must be given.  Receiving love is an external experience, with some benefit, or course!  But, if we give love, it makes us become love incarnate to someone!  And when we are love, our souls live!  The soul grows and blossoms.  And as the soul grows, the ability to love even more, is increased.  Happiness, and all sorts of good things result.  But, love is it’s own reward!

    As Shakespeare wrote:
    "My bounty is as boundless as the sea,
    My love as deep; the more I give to thee,
    The more I have, for both are infinite."
The personality of love is a state of being, where the person has become someone who automatically does the loving thing.  Love incarnate.  Gives.  Sacrifices.  Lays down his or her life.  For everyone and anyone.  Irregardless of anyone’s supposed worthiness of being the beneficiary of such behavior.  So, love’s personality does not judge.  "You are human, my brother/sister, therefore I accept you, help you, treat you with respect."
    As Mother Teresa said:
    "If you judge someone, you have no time to love them."
Love’s personality can become angry, when the beloved (humanity in general, or a specific individual) is mistreated.  This will cause the lover to take up the cause, to help alleviate the suffering his/her beloved is being subjected to.

Love: The Personality is defined as a state of being the lover dwells in, which will cause him or her to act, for the benefit of the beloved.

 
Sweet Home
Love: The Personality
Love: The Brotherly

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  "Heavenly Love Conquering Earthly Love," by Giovanni Baglione, courtesy of CGFA.
  Scripture taken from John 15:13 and 1 John 3:16b-18 in the New International Version of the Holy Bible, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society.
  Contact the author of this page by emailing whatslove@bigfoot.com
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