I Love You More...

I love you more….

Have you ever noticed that everyone loves everything? Not so much each other, but things. It seems that in many general conversations, someone is stating how much they love something. I love your house, I love your hair, I love that recipe, I love this or I love that. It is very apparent that society has become too flippant with the use of the word love. It seems that love is just another play on words in our current society and it has no real relevance to anyone.

As we begin February, the love month, I have been reflecting on what love truly means. Agape love is the unconditional “God” love. 1 John 4:8 says “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 lists the attributes of love: it is patient, it is kind, does not envy or boast, is not proud, does not dishonor others, is not self-seeking, is not easily angered and keeps no record of wrongs. Almost everyone knows the 10 commandments, but they don’t know the new commandment Jesus gave in John 13:34 that we are to love one another. Clearly society has forgotten or maybe has never been shown what it means to love one another.

Years ago, my mom began saying something to me that I now say to my kids. Anytime I say, “I love you” to her, she says. “I love you more.” John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” This scripture to me is the epitome of “I love you more!” How much does Jesus love us? He stretched his arms out, allowed nails to pierce his hands and shed his blood for the sins of mankind. That is true unconditional love!

I am not perfect and have yet to meet anyone who is, but each day I try to show the God kind of love to anyone I encounter. Showing love to someone costs you nothing but it can mean everything to the one you show it to.

Please remember that I love you... but Jesus loves you more!

Susan Stricklin