Love Is All This…

“We are too ready to retaliate, rather than forgive. . . .” said William Penn, “And yet we could hurt no Man that we believe loves us. . . . What we love we’ll trust. . . . Love,” he continued, “is the hardest Lesson in Christianity. . . .”

Sincere love is something that sacrifices not something that indulges itself. Sincere love is responsible. It would never knowingly hurt, but would heal.

“Love is a great thing, a good above all others,” said Thomas Kempis, “which alone maketh every burden light. . . . Love is watchful, and whilst sleeping still keeps watch; though fatigued, it is not weary; though pressed, it is not forced. . . . Love is . . .sincere. . .gentle, strong, patient, faithful, prudent, long-suffering, manly. . . . Love is circumspect, humble, and upright; not weak, not fickle, nor intent on vain things; sober, chaste, steadfast, quiet, and guarded in all the senses.”

Love is doing, forgiving, serving, protecting, cherishing, respecting. It is not mere passing sentiment, but something solid that can be counted on. “If we lose affection and kindliness from our life,” said Cicero, “we lose all that gives it charm.”

“This is the one remedy for all ills,” observed Emerson. “We must [love], and at once the impossible becomes possible. . . . Let our affection flow out to our fellows; [and] it would operate in a day the greatest of all revolutions. . . . Love would put a new face on this weary . . . world.”

“Love and you shall be loved.”

“Thou shalt live together in love. . . .”

This all adds up to a great scriptural injunction: “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.” And to the question “What is love without truth?” one may almost equally ask, “What is truth without love?”

In short, love is not just something we say for love seeks truth and requires honesty and honor, discipline and self-control. It is a very substance of soul that cannot be selfish. And merely saying that we love is not enough.