Love is not a feeling, it's an ability.
-Marty Dan in Real Life
I've been gearing up for Valentine's Day. My preparation has consisted of predetermining where I want to eat for mine and Jason's meal date, making a mental note to wear my red necklace (fitting for the occasion) and forcing myself down the greeting card aisle at CVS; a place where my claustrophobic tendencies come out. It's hard to find a card "when you want to send the very best".
I've also been dreading having to make Rylie's card box for her valentines. I waited until the last-minute again. She decided that the box that our twelve pack of tacos came in last night would be perfect. She'll be tickled pink with her taco-scented valentines post party time.
Valentine's Day, the celebrated Day of Love, is the time when we get "all up in our feelings".
Honestly, my feelings on Valentine's Day and my feelings in general aren't always cause for celebration. My feelings are a fickle ebb and flow. They can't be trusted. My feelings are thwarted by my moods, rude people, crowded shopping centers (with rude people) and long red lights (which make me fall into the rude people category).
We base love on our feelings.
But here's the thing….
Love is an ability. Love is an ability that acts in union with our emotions when we're feeling generous or amorous. And even when we're "not feeling it" (which is more often the case), love is an ability to act accordingly in spite of our emotions.
Remember these tips on Valentine's Day (February 14) and the other 364 LOVE days in a year.
- Love is patient. Remember that when you're trying cover a taco box with wrapping paper while you're aided by an eight year old. Love doesn't urge "Move it, move it". Love isn't a rigid clock-watcher.
- Love is kind. Love seeks out the poor in spirit and shares what it has. Love passes up the better parking spot with the thought that somebody might need it. It gives without thought of what it will receive in return.
- Love is not boastful or jealous or proud. Love has no need to be better than anybody else. It has no need to make the next person seem less in order to puff itself up.
- Or rude. It does not demand its own way. It doesn't stamp its foot. (It probably doesn't give its husband a list of three choices of where it would like to eat for lunch…in order of preference) It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. Love isn't a cold-blooded creature whose testy temperature changes according to its surroundings. Love isn't wrecked by attitude. Love, in anger, doesn't say things like, "You always…" or "You never"…. (#4 was long, huh.)
- It does not rejoice in evil, but rejoices in the truth. Love doesn't celebrate when its enemy gets what they had coming.
- Love never gives up, never loses faith. Is always hopeful through every circumstance. Love's mantra is hope-when it's alone….or despair is knocking at its door……or when its feelings lie. Because love lasts 365 days a year; outlasting the "yuck" (sadness/lonliness/failings/sin) of life. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love is not a feeling. It's an ability; one given to us from the very author of love.
Love comes in different packages, including a taco box. The substance to that love is what matters.