Learning to love & be loved is a journey...

LOVE. A simple four letter word that holds such a heavy weight. And yet, these days it is being tossed around as something that is common, and ordinary. My friends, that is NOT how it was ever intended to be used. It is not used as a way to say it without meaning. It is not used to get people to do what you want. It is not supposed to be a common word. If you look up "love" in the dictionary, you get multiple definitions. So what is love to you? To me, it means to like someone passionately and generously enough that even though you see their shortcomings, you stand with them in their mess and care for them through it. If that reminds you of something or someone, I hope it is Jesus. He stood in our mess, looked at us and loved us, loved us deeply and generously enough to die for us, death on the cross to be exact! What a LOVE. Being in His love has taught me a multitude of things. For one, it has taught me to love people where they are at. We are never supposed to go into a relationship trying to change it or start demanding ultimatums. If change happens, it is supposed to be natural. Love does not threaten or keep a record of wrongs. Being in His love has taught me grace and mercy. When you truly, fully are practicing love - you practice what happens in love. That is grace and mercy. This one is tough, especially now as I am in a relationship, I am finding this one out. Grace is when God gives us what we do not deserve, and mercy is when God doesn't give us what we deserve. So ya know, when he hung up on that cross, that was the ultimate showing of love, grace & mercy. So when you and your partner are not seeing eye to eye, or they have upset you, or they are going through something - put your feelings aside. It is not healthy to solely work out of your feelings. You need to work out of a mixture of truth and feelings. Seek truth, and your feelings will change. Being in His love has taught me how to be loved. As a twenty-something independent young lady, I on the daily read about love and imagine and pray for my future spouse. The more and more I read my Bible, the more and more I knew not to settle for just any man. Not to settle because I am getting older and most of my friends are married. Not to settle because there are "no good men left". Not to settle because of my feelings - because my feelings are not truth. But to settle for a man who embodies the likeness of Christ. For a man who loves generously, who protects me, yet pushes me to be a stronger woman of the Lord. Someone who will be my partner. Someone I can learn from, and learn with. Someone who will stand in my messes with me, and love me through them, no matter how long it takes. Being in His love has no time limits. Love is unconditional and everlasting. Did y'all know that? Do y'all understand what that means? It means that there are NO conditions, and NO time frames on it. I don't know about you, but that was THE BEST news I have ever heard. The fact that someone cares (loves) me deeply to the point of that? Always & forever? WOW. People, this is what we have been searching for. It's a love so great, that you can't help but share it. So here I am. Me - just a twenty-something young woman letting the world know that I am in the best relationship, and because of this - my second best relationship can flourish - and that I am so thankful for the learning curve that is made up of grace and mercy. Here's to praying, learning, and loving ALL people - because love NEVER fails.
xoxo Andee

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