Joan Wilson

With Valentine’s Day approaching I felt I had to share LOVE with you.

‘Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all. (That’s what Alfred Lord Tennyson said a long time ago.)

And another gentleman once said that the greatest happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved, loved for ourselves, or rather in spite of ourselves.

1^st John 4:18 says “ There is no fear in love; but perfect love drives out fear.”

Again in 1^st John chapter 3 verse 1, we read “how great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!”  And that is what we are!

This is the message you heard from the beginning; we should love one another. Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother.  And why did he murder him?  Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous.

How do we know what love is? It’s because Jesus Christ laid down his life for us all. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. We should show our love for each other in action not just in words. We are to love one another as God commanded us to do. Let us love one another, for love comes from God and remember God is love and he sent his one and only son into the world that we might live through him.

We are shaped and fashioned by what we love. And love is the basic need of human nature, for without it our life is disrupted emotionally, mentally, spiritually and also physically!

A mother who had raised an exceptional family of three sons and two daughters, all achievers, very smart children, was asked her formula for being a successful parent. She answered, “I really don’t know. I just love them and trust them”.  (I guess she had a lot of faith as well)

And there’s a story about a man who had been married for over thirty years. Returning from work one evening he found his wife packing. “What in the world are you doing?” he asked.

“I can’t handle it anymore!” she cried. “We’ve done nothing but fight, argue, complain and bicker at each other. I’ve decided to leave.”

The husband stood in shock and bewilderment as his wife walked out the house and out of his life. Suddenly, he dashed to the bedroom and pulled a suitcase down from the closet shelf, quickly put some clean clothes in it and running outside, he yelled to his wife, “ Wait for me. I can’t handle it anymore either, I’m coming with you!” (sounds like me and Colin  when we have an argument, he always says I’m leaving and I say go! But I’m not leaving my home – he always comes back with more love for me than before! I’m sure we can all relate to stories like this – like they say the best part of rowing is the making up that follows.

I didn’t write this but I found this little story so beautiful and so full of LOVE I had to share it with you.

Once upon a time,

There was an island where all feelings lived: Happiness, Sadness, Vanity, Knowledge, Richness, and Love.

Theirs was a contented existence until one day to everyone’s dismay it was discovered that the island was sinking. Everyone was told they must leave. So the feelings all prepared their boats and started leaving their beloved island.

Love was the only one that stayed behind. Love so cared for the island home that he wanted to stay until they were sure that the island was really sinking.

When Love realized that the island was really sinking, he decided to ask for help.

Richness was passing by Love in a beautiful boat. Love said, “Richness, can you take me with you?” Richness answered,”No, I can’t. There are a lot of gold and silver in my boat. There is no room in here for you.”

Love decided to ask Vanity who was passing by, “ Vanity, please help me!” “ I can’t help you Love. You are all wet and will damage my boat,” Vanity answered.

Sadness was close by so Love asked for help, “Sadness, let me go with you.” “ Oh…Love, I am so sad that I can’t help anyone. I prefer to be alone!”

Happiness passed Love too. She was too happy to notice when Love called her!

Suddenly, there was a voice, “ Come Love, I will take you.” It was an elderly man.

Love became very happy that he even forgot to ask the name of the elder. When they arrived to safe grounds, Love asked Knowledge who was the elderly man.

“It was time.” “Time? But why did Time help me?”

“Because only Time is capable of understanding such a great Love.”

Remember that when things may look the bleakest, and when all appears abandon, Time is capable of solving anything.

Things may not have a solution today, but tomorrow you may find one!

Author Unknown From Board of Wisdom website: http://boardofwisdom.com/togo/Quotes/ShowQuote?msgid=30698#.UtL1-SiTi69