What is this thing called love? While many believe it is that feeling which you get when an attractive individual of the opposite sex passes by, others believe it is that thing which makes a man or woman blind even if their minds tell them otherwise.
No wonder, one of the most misused words in our contemporary world and in history is love.
Those who miss it wonder if it exists at all while the few privileged that find love rejoice and are glad till they meet their creator, God who is the source of it all.
In all these, not withstanding where you stand, love, without any trace of doubt remains the strongest force on earth.
Why?, you may ask.
Remember God is the source of love - true unconditional love.
The Bible teaches that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son (to us).
The Bible further teaches that God is love and everyone that love is born of God.
No matter your definition or orientation, when it comes to the issue of love, one thing is sure; whether it is Agape (the Christ kind of love) or the erotic (the sexual love), God is the ultimate source.
In short, fulfillment in love originates and remains with God.
The existence of any of the aforementioned kinds of love marks the beginning of a relationship.
God loves relationships and for that matter He said, "let us make man in our own image".
Even in that statement, which all things came into being, the word "US" means God already existed in relationship.
That relationship was and remains sure, that is, the Holy Trinity, as the Christians put it.
Thus, before the world and all that are within, there was a relationship and relationships will continue even in eternity.
A relationship thrives best when those involved in the relationship play their role well.
Like a seed that develops into a seedling after a period of dormancy, and still requires nutrients to nurture it into maturity, so are our relationships.
So what at all is love? I strongly believe that what I call the "Love's Check list" should be the litmus test to our love for one another.
Let us now go through the Check list.
Love: 1.
Is patient 2.
Is kind 3.
Is not jealous 4.
Is not boastful 5.
Is not proud 6.
Does not demand its own way 7.
Is not irritable 8.
keeps no record when it has been wronged 9.
Is never glad about injustice 10.
Rejoices whenever the truth wins out 11.
Never gives up 12.
Never loses faith 13.
Always hopeful 14.
Endures through every circumstance 15.
lasts forever If you say you love, then let the check list be the fruits of your love.
A relationship can only grow well when we are committed to it.
Get committed!