Some people are affectionate by nature. They readily kiss and hug. Others, more reserved, don’t appreciate open displays of affection, but will show their love in other practical ways.
Love can be expressed and shown in different ways. Last Sunday my husband volunteered to come with me to a concert at which our choir was singing. He has been to several others where the choir sung and not had a problem. But this day when we walked he found at least a couple of hundred women milling around.
My husband is not normally uncomfortable around women. But this time he was so outnumbered. The only men in the room were the half a dozen tenors, and basses, involved in the choir. I could see my poor darling looking more and more uncomfortable as more women, most dressed in pink, to show support for breast cancer came in.
‘You go on home,’ I said even though it meant him taking the car.
In another example of showing love, my friend from church volunteered to drop me home after the function finished. With a look of relief, my husband kissed me and left the predominately pink domain.
By the time I arrived home a few hours later, he presented me with a lovely surprise. Knowing I’d wanted new business cards before a SCBWI (society of children’s book writers and illustrators) conference next week, he presented me with the templates of a selection of business cards he’d worked on while I was at the function.
Knowing my fondness for owls, he’d gone into my website, photographed the little owl there and transferred it into the abstract design on of the cards. Since I collect owls, I think he knew I’d end up choosing that one but it was lovely to have a choice.
Together we chose a font for the text details and the next day while I was writing, he printed the cards out.
God’s Word tells us ‘beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God,’ 1 John 4:7. And again later John’s letter warns us ‘If someone says “I love God” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God who he has not seen,’ 1 John 4:20.
Remember, love is far more than a feeling. Love is shown by our actions. ‘Through love serve one another,’ Galatians 5:13.
As you think about your marriage or romantic relationship, your friendships, your work, your church situation, look for ways you can show love to someone this week.
Bible verses from The New American Standard Version
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