coffee mug
hanna stone
When you google “define love,” the first definition that pops up is “an intense feeling of deep affection.” “To love” as a verb is “to feel a deep romantic or sexual attachment to someone.” Some synonyms for love are “affection,” “fondness,” “darling,” and “passion.” Synonyms for the verb to love are “to like,” “to be fond of,” “to fancy,” and “to adore.” This is what the world thinks of the idea of love: that it is a feeling. In order to love someone, you simply need to feel “deep affection” for that person. Love is used in our culture almost exclusively as the love between two romantic partners. The Bible says something entirely different. “Greater love has no man than this: that he lay down his life for a friend” (John 15:13). I could easily say that I have “an intense feeling of deep affection” for my dog. However, I certainly would not give up my life to save my dog. Also, the Bible verse says, “friend.” Maybe I could show true love to a friend without feeling “a deep romantic of sexual attachment” to them. The world would say that is not possible. However, I would say that not only is loving a friend possible, it is a better way of showing love than in a physical way to a romantic partner. Love is not a feeling. Love is making a choice to show someone in a tangible way that you will put them above yourself no matter what.
All love begins with a choice. What makes a true friendship is a mutual decision to put each other first. You do not automatically begin loving someone. No one can make you become friends with another person. When you begin spending time with another person, at some point you make the conscious or subconscious decision to pursue your relationship with that person. When you are in kindergarten, the decision is easier. You think, “Will this person share their toys with me? If they do, I will be their friend.” By the time you are in high school, the question you ask yourself is, “Will this person remain my friend and be loyal
When you google “define love,” the first definition that pops up is “an intense feeling of deep affection.” “To love” as a verb is “to feel a deep romantic or sexual attachment to someone.” Some synonyms for love are “affection,” “fondness,” “darling,” and “passion.” Synonyms for the verb to love are “to like,” “to be fond of,” “to fancy,” and “to adore.” This is what the world thinks of the idea of love: that it is a feeling. In order to love someone, you simply need to feel “deep affection” for that person. Love is used in our culture almost exclusively as the love between two romantic partners. The Bible says something entirely different. “Greater love has no man than this: that he lay down his life for a friend” (John 15:13). I could easily say that I have “an intense feeling of deep affection” for my dog. However, I certainly would not give up my life to save my dog. Also, the Bible verse says, “friend.” Maybe I could show true love to a friend without feeling “a deep romantic of sexual attachment” to them. The world would say that is not possible. However, I would say that not only is loving a friend possible, it is a better way of showing love than in a physical way to a romantic partner. Love is not a feeling. Love is making a choice to show someone in a tangible way that you will put them above yourself no matter what.
All love begins with a choice. What makes a true friendship is a mutual decision to put each other first. You do not automatically begin loving someone. No one can make you become friends with another person. When you begin spending time with another person, at some point you make the conscious or subconscious decision to pursue your relationship with that person. When you are in kindergarten, the decision is easier. You think, “Will this person share their toys with me? If they do, I will be their friend.” By the time you are in high school, the question you ask yourself is, “Will this person remain my friend and be loyal