“Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you” (Matt 5:43-44.)
Love.
Each of us has an unlimited supply of love stored up in our hearts and souls. And yet, we rarely spend it. We are too thrifty with our love. Like the megalomaniac who spends his days acquiring more and more money and possessions and yet can’t bring himself to spend any of it.
We mustn’t be like that with our love.
Love is a divine trust given to us at birth. It’s only caveat: You must spend it.
It is wonderful to love your family, to cherish each one and shower your affection upon them. And yet, it is not enough.
Love your friends, be a good friend. Be there for them, serve them, love them. And yet, you must do more.
Love the stranger you see at the grocery store or in the car next to you at the red light. Love them. Smile at them. Help them. And yet, there is more.
Love the neighbor, ward member or business acquaintance who has just offended you. Accept the bad, but don’t keep it. Let it go, and love. Then, love some more.
Love yourself. Despite all your shortcomings, despite all the many ways you let yourself down day by day, despite all the things you should have done. Love yourself.
The gift of Love works unlike any bank account on earth. It begins maxxed out, filled to the brim, ready to be spent. But unlike our earthly accounts, this account is perpetually refilling. Spend the love you’ve been granted, and it will multiply and grow, filling your account time and again with yet more love to be spent.
In Church this past week, we had a lesson on becoming one as a church, being united as a people. I’ve never before understood how that could really work—just the practicality of it was beyond my understanding. But during the lesson I began to see how we as a people can be more united, like a couple in marriage is united.
In marriage, you give your love, your care, and your understanding to your companion. You put their needs and wishes before your own. You think of them and what would please them, make them happy, feel loved, and you strive to do those things.
Becoming one as a people, is not unlike becoming one in your marriage. If we truly love and care for our fellow man, we will be united in purpose for the betterment of all.
But you have to be willing to love, because that is the key that unlocks your unselfish desires. You must first spend it, give it freely, willingly, uncensored and without expectations, and you will find that you will receive more than enough to sustain you, to lift you and to cheer you.
Find your love. And then, give it away.
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