Are You Brave Enough To Love?
This question struck me when I saw it come across my phone screen:
Are You Brave Enough To Love?
Think about it for a minute. Love is a million different things. It feels SO good to be loved, completely and truly! You know what I’m talking about; the jolt that goes right through your body when someone you love touches you! Isn’t that just the best feeling in the entire world? OR, being wrapped in their loving arms … there’s nothing better than a big hug where you lay your head against their chest and hear their heart beating. Gentle touches, fingers entwined together, brushing the hair from your face as their way of showing you affection. It is all worth it. And hearing it, honestly, are there any sweeter words to pass through your loved ones lips straight to your heart?
With love, sometimes heartache and pain follows. You can’t choose who your heart will love. That’s a fact. You can try to steer it in the right direction, but it happens. You find yourself falling head over heels before you know it.
~WHAM~ You crash into it like a Maserati going 100 MPH into a brick wall. And you’re left dumbstruck.
Sound familiar?
And you bask in the warmth of love that spills over you like the rays of the sun on a beautiful Spring day.
Sadly, there’s love that is one-sided. There’s love that you want to be returned to you, yet they can’t freely express it. There’s love that will remain in secret, never spoken of and never acted upon.
And silent tears will fall. Pillows will be soaked from sleepless nights spent pining for the one your heart desires most.
That’s love; all balled into one big wonderful maddening mess of heart-strings that feel like electrical current at times.
In the end, it is always worth it, though. No regrets!
To have felt love with a mere glance across the room that sends your heart fluttering like a million butterflies were let loose inside your soul. And to have loved, passionately, like the color red. If there could ever be a color assigned to signify love, deep, blood-red would be the one I’d choose. Love.
That’s the greatest feeling in the universe when you’re caught up in a whirlwind of emotions, like storm force winds in a hurricane. Love.
When love isn’t returned the way you want it to be, or if someone doesn’t love you like you think they should, it isn’t wrong. Maybe they are loving you with all they have. Perhaps they’ve experienced too many heartaches themselves to freely love with abandon. They might choose not to make themselves vulnerable for fear of having their hearts broken all over again. Who knows other than God and that person? It’s tucked deep inside, and they are the only ones that can open their hardened heart to allow you inside.
We are commanded to love. In the bible, there’s so many scriptures about love. Passionate love, or even loving thy neighbor. Even stating that the greatest gift is love. And it is!!
It is!
The Choice Is Yours
If you had a choice to be grouchy, irritated, or annoying with nagging on someone vs. being sweet, upbeat, and a joy to be around, which would you choose?
Let’s be honest here. No one enjoys someone who walks around mad at the world with a chip on their shoulders all the time. Now, I’m not talking about someone who just had something bad happen to them where I’m expecting them to just be overjoyed with what just took place. We’re all human, and we will all react the way we choose to react. What I’m referring to is a spouse that is constantly in a bad mood morning, noon, and night. No matter what, nothing is good enough or pleasing enough for them. (Note: I am not referring to my marriage, but one of my friends is going through this right this very minute!)
It’s difficult to sit by and watch this happening. You offer support and encouragement, yet you hear day after day of this going on.
What I want to bring to light is that in this situation – as in all situations – the choice is YOURS on how you react or respond. It’s up to you to decide if you are going to wallow in this hatred that you seem to carry around with you spewing harsh, accusatory words, OR if you’re going to be a ray of sunshine in someone’s life.
For me, I want to be that ray of sunshine.
I want others to look at me and smile because I’ve smiled at them! I desire for my smile to be contagious enough that it goes immediately to their faces, too!
Honestly, I do not want people to remember me as a nag. I don’t want people to look back at their time with me and think how much I brought them down. Also, I don’t want to be the reason someone else ends up having a portion of their day ruined … all because of how I’ve lashed out at them or chose to behave.
When my feet hit the floor in the mornings, I want to greet the day with happiness inside my soul. I want those around me to greet me with a smile and a hug, the same way I want to greet them. Realizing not everyone is a morning person, no deep conversation is needed before coffee (or for me, warm lemon and honey water). Just smile. Hug. Exchange pleasant “Good Mornings,” and let that be it until after a shower or after you feel awake enough to carry on a pleasant conversation.
What I’ve observed with my friend’s spouse is constant criticism, having their character attacked, and even accusing them of things the spouse has made up in their own minds.
STOP IT!
Just stop.
That’s what I want to say to them.
Life is too short for all of that, and in the end, it will torment you if you continue to choose to live your life this way.
There’s an argument about which takes more energy – being hateful or being a joy. Truly, it doesn’t matter which takes more energy – think of which is more pleasant to be around. A grouch, huffing and puffing throwing a temper tantrum? Or a smiling face that beams with joy from the inside out? I’ll take the latter of the two, thank you!
If someone around me starts to bring me down by their behavior and the way they choose to carry themselves, I’ll attempt to turn the situation around. If it fails, however, I will quickly remove myself from that situation and the sour puss. I’ll be polite about it, but I will choose NOT to allow that person to affect my mood or steal my joy! Plain and simple!
The choice is yours – which one will you choose today?
Attitudes, love, and words unspoken
Yesterday was “The Day of Love,” ie: Valentine’s Day. I purposely chose not to write on that particular day but to enjoy seeing the display of love that surrounded me. Not that I was anticipating anything at all, because I am not that type of person, but because I get such great joy of seeing those around me happy and in love as well.
Today I want to talk about attitudes, love, and words unspoken.
One of the features I adore on Facebook is the “memories” that pop up. This is a daily reminder of what happened on that particular day, however many years ago, and what you posted on your timeline. Today, two quotes popped up that I shared a few years apart.
The greatest discovery of my generation
is that human beings can alter their lives
by altering their attitudes of mind.
~William James
This particular quote should have sort-of an awakening effect when you read it and let it sink in. Think about it. YOU can alter your entire life by simply altering your attitude! You can make up your mind to stop looking at things from a negative perspective. Likewise, you can stop choosing to speak negatively about yourself and others as well. Why not be a more enjoyable person to be around instead of wallowing in hatefulness.
Here’s an example. A wife of one of my coworkers is obsessed with me, referring to me as “that” woman. He and I are both married with children, so why should I be the object of her remarks? Why am I the focus? He and I are forced to work together due to the very nature of our jobs. Yet, shortly after I started working here in 2016, I received a text message from her. Little does she realize, this is unlawful use of a cell phone. When you have not had any business texting someone before, yet do so for something of this nature, it’s illegal. Most people do not realize this and think their actions are harmless. We found out from our local sheriff’s department three years ago when my daughter was being hounded by such text messages that it is, in fact, illegal activity. That matter was addressed by the chief, which is where this is headed should I receive any more messages from this jealous wife.
My thing is this: if there’s trouble in paradise, why doesn’t she shift her focus and energy on bettering herself and making sure she’s the best wife she can possibly be. IF she would concern herself more with that, she wouldn’t need to think twice about little ole me. Why am I a threat to her? Perhaps she takes her husband for granted, mistreated him or neglects him. I can only imagine because why else would the green-eyed monster be on her shoulder?
There is one person at work that I do pick on a lot, only because they started picking on me last May. Up until then, I was quiet, shy, and reserved. But it was ON when they started up with me! Now, they probably wish I’d go back to that, but we’ve turned into the best of office buddies. It makes the day go by faster with laughter in the office, and this guy is single so I’m not a threat to anyone in his situation! It’s just innocent fun. (Psst. I’m old enough to be his mother!)
Changing the subject now, I’d like to focus on the spirit of love. This quote speaks volumes.
The moments when you have truly lived
are the moments when you have done things
in the spirit of love.
Henry Drummond
When was the last time you did something for someone out of the spirit of love? Honestly not thinking of anything you stand to gain, but going out of your way to let someone know you appreciate them? I was on the receiving end of such kindness this week, and I walked around with a silly grin on my face for days. DAYS!! It doesn’t have to be something grande or extravagant, nothing expensive even. Just knowing that someone took time out of their day to remember me in some way makes my heart sing.
Last but not least, words unspoken. What’s in your heart? Better yet, have you spoken those words to the one that truly needs to hear it? This is something a lot of people have a hard time with. Whether ego gets in the way, or they are just too bashful to admit their feelings, it’s incredibly sad when things need to be said and yet there’s silence.
Crickets chirping in the distance …
Please don’t allow this to happen. I’ve seen it happen firsthand, and the person that didn’t say how they felt ended up with terrible regret.
Speak now, while the person can hear the words your heart is longing to say!
That is all for today. Carry on, dear ones!
