Long songs sometimes have a way of bringing out our true emotions. You probably have your favorites, but let me jog your mind for a moment. Your Song by Elton John. I Just Can't Stop Loving You by Michael Jackson. I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston. Your Still the One by Shania Twain. For every beautiful love song, you'll find some very sad songs about broken love. He Stopped Loving Her Today by George Jones. Just A Dream by Carrie Underwood. Love Hurts by Nazareth.
Suffice it to say, that love is one of the most talked about, written about, sung about topics known to man. We all want to love. We all want to be loved. Yet, as the sad songs say, love hurts. It's not easy to love. Each day we are prone to make our own mistakes in the relationship department. Be selfish. Me-oriented. Thoughtless rather than thoughtful. Critical. Judgmental. React rather than respond. We look down at others wrongs but fail to see our own.
As Valentine's Day fast approaches, let's take a moment and pray that we would all grow in being loving people. Whether we're single or married is not the issue. The issue is about loving people well...with God's love. Ponder the words from a portion of 1 Corinthians 13 from The Message: Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than self. Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. Love doesn't strut. Doesn't have a swelled head. Doesn't force itself on others. Isn't always "me first." Doesn't fly off the handle. Doesn't keep score of the sins of others. Doesn't revel when others grovel. Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth. Puts up with anything. Trusts God always. Always looks for the best. Never looks back.
Now stop for a moment and allow yourself to do a self evaluation. What changes do you need to make to love others well? This morning, let's start up by praying these verses back to God. Then, practice loving others with God's love. Because, really, that's the only way to love others well.
Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.
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