13 Feb 2020

Living In Love

February has often been termed the “love month”, as February 14th is known as Valentine’s Day. This particular day is chosen to express love in various ways to those you love and hold dear. Statistics report that despite fewer people celebrating this holiday, a total of $20.7 billion is expected to be spent on cards, candy, gifts, etc. this year. Whether you agree or frown on the idea of this holiday being one to tangibly show love, it is solely the prerogative of every individual.

I believe that whenever and however love is shown it should be displayed and expressed in its purest, most genuine form. I learned through a very painful process, that when you are truly able to love yourself, recognize your value and self-worth; you more readily see that in others. Can you love others, and not truly love yourself? Of course, it is possible. The greater the capacity for self-love opens the door for a greater capacity to love others. Intrapersonal examination of positives and negatives prove to support that fact. When a person’s outlook is for the most part negative and pessimistic, that person typically has the same perspective inwardly and outwardly. On the other hand, when one strives to see, nurture, and develop their strongest and best characteristics, they are more apt to do the same with others.

Spiritually speaking, we know that the Bible teaches us that God is love. Accepting that to be true, we must then derive that since God is everywhere, then His love can be found everywhere and in everyone. It is through our connection to God and His Spirit, that we learn to love ourselves and love others. I John 4: 16 states, “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.” Everyday we are faced with adversity, yet if we live in God, allowing God to live in us, it is possible to live in love and express love one to another.

Loving oneself is the acknowledgement of the Creator and His creation. The bible states that we are fearfully and wonderfully made! God created us in love, and in our acceptance of His love we learn to love and appreciate ourselves. Living in love for ourselves is expressed through how we care for ourselves, the passion and drive for life to become all we can be, and to be the light that shines forth the glory of God. Once that becomes the identity of our lifestyle, then it becomes a natural part of us to display this same passion for life and love towards others.

Source: First Lady Denise