L is for Love

I wonder how popular this particular 'L' post will be in the A to Z Challenge? It just kind of rolled off of my tongue because, well..L IS for Love. Love is a wonderful thing. A many splendored thing. A battlefield. A 4-letter word? In any case, it most certainly is a popular topic and I fully expect to see at least a handful of other posts on this same topic. There are so many facets to love that I could go in any number of directions with this one. For this post, I wanted to focus on the love a parent has for their child. My son Benjamin is fast approaching his first birthday (sigh) and the love I have for him knows no bounds.

There is literally NOTHING he could ever do that would cause me to love him any less. I mean, look at that face (spoken like a true mom)! I tell him quite often how much mommy loves him. I also (almost) always follow that up by telling him that even though mommy loves him that much, it could never compare with how much Jesus loves him. I have often heard people compare the love that God has for us with the love we have for our children (or perhaps a spouse, for those who do not have children). It is unconditional, void of circumstance and unavoidable. So, if you take a moment to think of the love that you have for your child or children, take the next moment to fully realize that this is NOTHING compared to the love that our Father in Heaven has for us through His son Jesus Christ. Here are just a few reminders of that great and perfect love.

Romans 8:38-39
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^[a] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Colossians 3:14
And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

And finally, as we prepare our hearts and minds for the Holy Week ahead, the one, true perfect example of love:

1 John 3:16
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.

God bless you all my friends!