Challenging Love

When you read that what does it say to you? Have you ever been in love? Really and TRULY been in love? I asked myself that very question and if I’m quite honest the answer may very well be no for me. I have loved and been loved in return but not to that description that you see above.

Love is kind? Love does not envy? Love is patient? Love does not insist in having its own way?

Ay. Talking about starting over at square one with my idea on true amore.

I went back to church on Sunday and as I was walking up the gravel road to the campus (Yes I wore more sensible shoes this time) I started thinking about love. Like what does it really mean? In any situation whether it be a friend, family, lover,  some random person you cross paths with…. What is love really all about? Sure enough God popped up and said hello to me just in the unexpected way he had before in this church. One of the greeters handed me a pamphlet with an infectious grin on her face and inside was this….

HOLY FORREST GUMP MOMENT! “Somethang bite meeeey!” I mean geeeeez! That discussion on sabotage isn’t until next Sunday but you bet your sweet little tush that I will be there!!! That little card was enough to peak my attention even more as to what was filling my heart inside this church’s walls. It describes more of my notion of love than is comfortable for me to admit.

The current service I was attending was all about love and how we should love each other as God wants us to.  Freely and openly and even if we don’t really want to. Normally, or at least I have been guilty of this, we think of love as Valentines day, wedding vows, marriage, Hallmark cards and warm fuzzies. While those are all forms of love I had never put into perspective that real love is different.  its oh o much more that I thought. In love I have been unkind, I have been selfish, I have been jealous. Man that sucks to write and realize that. As many times as I have uttered the words, have I ever been woman enough to do more than just say them? One thought keeps creeping into my mind while I yearn for this one thing in my life that seems to elude me.

To receive love you have to live in love.

Now that to me is a smack you in the face kind of thought. Maybe love isn’t just meant to be solely felt in those three words that we so often throw around without real meaning.  For me its beginning to mean being n love with life.

Being in love wit that unexpected cool breeze during my run when I was letting my mind distract me from how pretty the weather was.

Being in love with how friggin cute my dog is when she gets all spastic and wants to play when I’m in the middle of doing my abs.

Being in love with how many AMAZING friends that have been placed in my life. That have saved my life.

Being in love with my career that I have worked so hard for.

Being in love with my Mommy and how she prays EVERYDAY for my happiness so much that sometimes she sacrifices her own.

Bottom line is that I think, I hope, I PRAY that I’m onto something here. I want to live life in love no matter the circumstance. No matter the road that God is leading me towards. I am not going to be unrealistic and say that all my bitterness and resentment has floated away but I’m workin’ on it. Its been a long time coming so it won’t happen overnight. But this much I can say. I am closer than I was before.

~ LOVE and Hugs and Smiles~ R!LEY COUTURE