“The event of falling in love is of such a nature that we are right to reject a intolerable the idea that it should be transitory. In one high bound it has overleaped the massive of our selfhood; it has made appetite itself altruistic, tossed personal happiness aside as a triviality and planted the interests of another in the center of our being. Spontaneously and without effort we have fulfilled the law (towards one person) by loving our neighbor as ourselves. It is an image, a foretaste, of what we must become to all if Love Himself rules in us without rival. It is even (well used) a preparation for that.”
~ C. S. Lewis, The Four Loves
Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. (Romans 13:10 ESV)
I am currently reading this book, it is so good and so challenging all at the same time. Interesting how sometimes the thing you want the most, long for the most, pray about the most, takes so long to happen. Oh the tears that have been shed over love or the lack of love, at least the romantic kind. Hopefully this to will end soon, I have certainly prayed a lot about it, and when I say a lot, I mean a lot. But I suppose the process of this is causing me to learn something, and grow my heart. Which it has, in so many way. If anything the idea of a Hollywood romantic comedy kind of love and relationship has stopped, reality of the hardness of relationships has set in. Like I said it is a growing and learning experience.
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:12, 13 ESV)
Remember to, you may not have a romantic love, but you always have love in your life. Be it family or friends, or most importantly to me the love of God, we all have love in our life. C. S. Lewis’ book The Four Loves speaks extensively on how important friendship is and how much it teaches you about love, the non-romantic kind of love. What a beautiful picture of life to not only have a romantic love but to have friendship love as well, it’s something that I have invited into my life more and more, because friends are the best! I have often been so grateful to God for the friendships he has given me, they are beautiful vibrant people who make life so much better. We talk, we laugh, we cry and in the darkest times we pray. What could be better then that.
So single or married, divorced or widowed, orphaned, lonely, whatever you may be, know that love doesn’t have a relationship status. It is beyond that, far beyond romantic, far beyond friendship, love is transformational for all who truly experience it. That would be my hope for all of you, that you would experience love in it’s truest and purest form.
All that to say, Happy Valentine’s Day! And know that you are loved and cherished!
Have a blessed day!
Heather
Heather's Photography 