They say that the best things in life are free. Including:
• The splendor of the morning sun as it illuminates the awaiting sky
• The calming reflection of the moon on a still body of water
• The harmonic symphony of the birds in the morning chorus
• The sweet fragrance of a flower as it spreads its pedals toward the horizon
I have found that the very best things in life are not free, they come at high cost. Love is the ultimate gift. Love requires sacrifice. Love requires a sacrifice of time, effort, abilities, gifts, alternative “fun activities”, sleep, money, the “right to be right”, “the last word”, tears, fears, personal safety and soooooooooooo much more. If it is free and came at no cost, I can guarantee you that it is not rooted in “Love”.
Love necessitates a choice. That is why Love is not passive. It is alive with action. People who are driven by love are people on the move. They are like rivers (flowing and vibrant), not swamps (that sit and stink).
Love demands a commitment. If you are not willing to commit to someone or something than don’t say that you Love that person or thing. A commitment is a promise, a dedication or a pledge. That simply means that what you say you’ll do, you will do. It is not based on emotions or feelings. Feelings/Emotions should never dictate how we carry out our commitments. There are many things that we don’t feel like doing but we choose to do them because of our commitment that stems from our love.
Love involves courage. Where fear paralyzes us, courage fueled by love motivates us to “take on the world” for the ones that we love and for the causes that we love. We can boldly perform acts of heroism in the lives of the ones that we love and come to the rescue of the people that God has called us to love (the poor, the sick, the outcast, the hurting etc.). It takes courage to go “where no man has gone before…or where no man wants to go”, in the name of love to reach those that man has no desire to touch.
John 13:34“Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. (The Message)
John 15:13 “This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends.” (The Message)
Who are you laying your life on the line for? Who is laying their life on the line for you? We and others talk it but do we actually live it. I don’t need any more “free friends” and don’t want anyone to “love me for free”. True friendship involves love as demonstrated by choices, commitments and our courage. Don’t take friendship lightly because friendships involve love and that requires some form of “sacrifice of your life”.
No more “free friends”, the best things in life aren’t always free.
Be Blessed,
B
