What’s Your View of Love?

On this Valentine ’s Day I thought you might enjoy some answers kids gave about love.

CONCERNING WHY LOVE HAPPENS BETWEEN TWO PARTICULAR PEOPLE
“I think you’re supposed to get shot with an arrow or something, but the rest of it isn’t supposed to be so painful.” –Manuel, age 8

ON WHAT FALLING IN LOVE IS LIKE
“Like an avalanche where you have to run for your life.”  –John, age 9

ON THE ROLE OF BEAUTY AND HANDSOMENESS IN LOVE
“If you want to be loved by somebody who isn’t already in your family, it doesn’t hurt to be beautiful.” –Anita, age 8

“It isn’t always just how you look. Look at me. I’m handsome like anything and I haven’t got anybody to marry me yet.”  –Brian, age 7

CONCERNING WHY LOVERS OFTEN HOLD HANDS
“They want to make sure their rings don’t fall off because they paid good money for them.” –Gavin, age 8

CONFIDENTIAL OPINIONS ABOUT LOVE
“I’m in favor of love as long as it doesn’t happen when ‘Dinosaurs’ is on television.” –Jill, age 6

“Love is foolish … but I still might try it sometime.”  -Floyd, age 9

“Love will find you, even if you are trying to hide from it. I been trying to hide from it since I was five, but the girls keep finding me.” –Dave, age 8

“I’m not rushing into being in love. I’m finding fourth grade hard enough.” –Regina, age 10

SOME SUREFIRE WAYS TO MAKE A PERSON FALL IN LOVE WITH YOU
“Tell them that you own a whole bunch of candy stores.” –Del, age 6

“Don’t do things like have smelly, green sneakers. You might get attention, but attention ain’t the same thing as love.” –Alonzo, age 9

These ideas from a kid’s perspective make us chuckle.  Yet, I wonder if God may look down on his children and smile as he sees our own childish attempts at love.  His view is so much bigger, broader and deeper than ours.  Paul expressed it this way.  “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom 5:6-8) 

He set the example of love and yet it is really hard to wrap your mind around the kind of love that God has for us.  However, let’s not give up trying.  Let’s learn to love.  And love better each day.  Let’s grow in our love.  And let’s follow His example and share His love with our friends, brethren and neighbors. 

Our families would be happier, more unified, and less stressful if we imbibed God’s love. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her” (Eph. 5:25) “…the older women likewise, that….that they admonish the young women to love their husbands…(Tits 2:3-4) 

While on this Valentine’s Day, much emphasis is placed on romantic love, may we learn to love like God.  Completely. Unconditionally.  Sacrificially. 

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” (I John 4:7-8) 

—Ken Weliever, The Preacherman