Love

My favorite word for as long as I can remember is “love.” When I learned to write in cursive I fell in love with how it looked, so elegant with the loops through the L. It pairs well with the words peace and harmony. :)

As a child of parents raised in the 60s, love has always been part of their teachings.

I was raised Baptist (dad’s side of the family), Methodist (mom’s side) and Cumberland Presbyterian (current); and in all three love was a key feature in the message.

I find myself still drawn to the word “love” in adulthood. I use it at least 20 times a day.

I’m constantly telling my children I love them. It became what I say when I don’t know what to say, like a tic almost; and I hope my children never go deaf to the phrase “I love you.”

I hope one day they can feel the sheer magnitude of a parent’s love, it consumes you, and in the absence of a child, it kills you.

I can’t speak to that hurt, but seeing it in another feels like standing too close to a house fully engulfed in flames, you can feel the heat, but the agony is theirs alone to uniquely understand.

A few people have been on my mind this holiday season.

I’m praying for anyone that has lost a child that with time the grief becomes more manageable.

Remember, you are so loved; and your love is still needed in this world. You are filling the void in other hearts. Losing you would bring unimaginable pain to your loved ones.

No one has the right to tell you what your timeline is for healing, but just know, you’re not alone.

I digress slightly.

The thought that prompted this editorial was, “love is at the center of everything in existence.”

Everything in life has roots in love. Flowers, trees, animals, pets, family, your hobbies, your education, your profession, the lessons you teach, when you buy/build a house, the first deep breath of a crisp fall morning, summer break, Christmas presents, Santa, Jesus, the first snow, watching your children grow, the feel of warm towels coming out of the dryer, your success, your passions in life, everything you see was touched by love in some way.

Of course there are terrible things in this world, but hate and love are a two-sided coin. Sometimes hate is the death of love. Sometimes hate is present when we think we never knew love.

But love however small is enduring. It takes love to get over hate.

“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.” Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

He wanted a better world where people loved each other regardless of their differences. He was a reverend; he was “in his lane” and on message, Jesus’ message.

Jesus died for love too. (For those having a hissy fit right now, I’m not comparing Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to the Lord, because Dr. King was human.)

Their voices could be heard over all the other noise at the time; and their words still continue to change the world.

To quote the Jackie DeShannon song, “What the world needs now is love sweet love, it’s the only thing that there’s just too little of” (lyrics by Hal David).

So the takeaway from this rather long column is, be the change.

You don’t have to be perfect to change the world, you just have to be willing.

Love without holding back. Be kind to strangers. Hold the door. Help them pick up what they dropped. Check in on the elderly. Hug your pets and spoil them rotten, children and grandchildren too. Overuse “I love you” because it means more than you know to others. Listen to others’ life stories. Learn something new every day. That knowledge was someone’s life’s work and passion. Guard your mind against hate and throw love around like confetti.

Send Christmas cards and regular cards, “thinking of you,” etc. I need to make more time for this myself. Tell someone how awesome they are, just because. Tell yourself that too, because you can’t pour into others with an empty bucket.

Let go of fear and hate because they are heavy burdens to carry. You don’t need them.

You are beautifully and wonderfully made and Jesus wants so much more for you than to carry around negativity.

What Jesus said (the words in red) are all you need.

Sending you all my love. I hope your holiday season is filled with fun and laughter and I hope your blessings always outnumber your struggles.

With Love,

Britt

P.S. There are 30 pages of Christmas in this edition, and I love that so much! Thank you for sharing your children’s letters with us.