Doing Love Anyway

posted Apr 2, 2013, 7:18 PM by Love Like Giants   [ updated Apr 2, 2013, 7:18 PM ]
Hello, 
You have been sent a "Love Note" (no, not that kind of love note). I am anonymously writing and sending an Agape "Love Note" to a special person I have never met each day for thirty days to better understand Agape Love and share its' availability to them through me. I did choose you at random to get this note but I am hopeful that what I write will brighten your day or give you answers you might not be able to hear from someone you know.

Love is a profound but still a simple concept. To give you a bit of background info, as a vocation I teach and develop classes for sales people and leaders; I am a corporate sales and leadership trainer. When I am asked to develop a class or write about something, I usually spend time researching the topic and go from there; learning about Love has been different. I did begin by reading, watching videos and listening to podcasts but soon realized that the only way to learn about Love is to be in obedience to it. 

To be "good" at loving, I know I have to "do" the qualities of love. To practice Love, I am hard to offend and quick to forgive, I rejoice in what is good, even when it happens for someone who has been unkind to me or someone I care about. I hope for and expect the best of people, respond to everyone, even nasty or unfair people, with kindness.

I'm sure this sounds idealistic or "Pollyanna", and sometimes it does feel that way. But honestly, I absolutely can say a quick prayer when someone is mean or unfair instead of retaliating. Over time I have even made it a habit. I can, and have been able to choke out a compliment for someone who wishes the worse for me. (It gets easier.) I really do ask God to bless a specific mean person at work with every wonderful thing I want for myself each time I think of them. I actually make a point of putting the grocery cart back after I shop, even if I have a bad experience at the store (trust me, there was a time not long ago that I would have written a nasty letter for every bad experience). I often pick up and throw away the trash I see on our office floor, even when it's not mine (I really do). This is "doing" Love, and certainly I do not feel "loving" at the time; I just do it. Love is mostly "doing"; feeling is a bonus. 

I wish you knew how seriously cranky and sarcastic I have always been. You would really appreciate the impossibility of my transformation into seeking to "do" Love. I do this hard work because of my Christian faith and knowing that I may be the only model of God's Love people may ever see, especially the people who "do" the most "unloving". Love is always what it is; circumstances do not dictate its' characteristics. When I give Love in return for fear or hate, I show Love and my God within me.

Well, that's my love letter to you; thank you for reading. May God bless you and enrich your life. Of all the people I could have mailed this "Love Note" to, I chose you.  Your name was picked at random, but I am certain it wasn't by chance.

Sincerely,
Someone learning about Love
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