Recipe For Love

 Valentine’s Day has shot by us once again in a blur. Many of us hoping Cupid‘s arrow would fly straight, hitting the heart of a loved one.  Boxes of Valentine cards were hastily filled out and bags full of candy hearts carelessly spilled out onto classroom floors. Excited, wide-eyed children eagerly sought after the hearts of their classmates. Teens' shared text messages back and forth like endless barrages of night arrows arching over a castle wall. Many of us spent many hours looking for that perfect card or gift that attempts to show the degree to which we love.

New relationships were formed over candlelight dinners then sealed with a kiss. Countless glasses were filled and lifted in toasts to new friendships, romantic love and hopes of marriage.  Delivery trucks unloaded crates of candy and buckets of flowers were put on display for us to purchase in an attempt to show our significant other just how much we love them.

 Love can be extremely romantic at times decorated in all the trappings of Valentine’s Day. Love can also be many splendid things or it can lead us into very deep depression. But what happens after all the dinner reservations are over, candy wrappers have been deposited in the trash and promises of “I’ll never leave you and I’ll love you forever” fade and become just memories?

The answer to that question depends on how you define love in the first place. For me personally love is a commitment. It is saying to another person “I still have your back” even when you don’t have the energy to mumble the words. Love is getting up each morning and doing the chores or going to your job even when you don’t feel like it. Love is demonstrated when we practice selflessness.  “Greater love has no man than this, that a man would lay down his life for a friend”

When you love someone you want to do nice things for them that will bring a smile to their face. Making a commitment to another person means that you promise to be there to help them get up when they fall down, to help them keep warm when they are cold, to comfort them when they are sick and to believe the best in all situations. Love is longsuffering and kind. Love is not envious, is not prideful and does not act rudely towards others. Love never attempts to seek after its own satisfaction but is focused on the needs of others. Love never rejoices in someone’s misfortune or at the hearing of bad news.  Love rejoices in the truth, never entertains evil thoughts and always hopes for the best in all situations.

So as each day dawns with all of its new challenges remember that they will pass and that the promise of tomorrow will bring a new day with fresh opportunities. Remember that even though some people will continue to let you down new friends will be appear sprouting new relationships that will blossom and grow.

Friends, the connections we make here on earth are the only things we take with us spiritually when we leave our bodies behind and pass on. These relationships we need to cultivate and nurture in order to grow. In this world the only things that have eternal value and worth are the people we love. The greatest commodity in the universe is “Love”. Let’s all start to diversify our portfolios and begin to invest in others by making a commitment to love!

It does not have to cost you great sums of money to show someone that you love them. A kind word or a single handpicked wild flower should do the trick. So remember the next time you open a door for someone or do an random act of kindness  you might be helping Cupid’s arrow to find its target.