Love Big in Small Ways
Years ago, I wanted to give Steve something special for Valentine’s Day to show my love for him, but money was tight like it is for many newlyweds. Spending very little money, I found a jar and bought two bags of Candy Hearts to fill the jar. You know what I’m talking about, the candy with short messages on them like, “Me & You", “Sweet Love,” “Love Me,” “You Rock,” “Love Bug,” “Puppy Love,” “Soul Mate,” and I’m sure there are more! Before putting the candy in the jar, I cut up small pieces of paper and created little love notes, interspersing them throughout the candy in the jar. I imagined him eating a few pieces of candy and then reading a sweet note from me! I love Candy Hearts (who doesn’t), so I assumed the gift was perfect for him. Steve did love the written notes, the candy not so much, much to my surprise! Who doesn’t like Candy Hearts? Eventually, Steve read all the messages, but I probably enjoyed most of the candy. In those early days, I didn’t know what made Steve feel loved, but after all these years, I do. So now I skip the candy and write him a note.
According to the book The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman, words of affirmation are at the top of Steve’s love languages. After reading the book, I noticed that I would give Steve what made me feel loved rather than what made him feel loved. I think we all tend to do this. So here are the five love languages—words of affirmation, acts of service, physical touch, gifts, and quality time. Think a moment about what makes you feel the most loved. Most people have their top two. Steve’s are words of affirmation and physical touch. Go figure! I gave gifts to Steve because I love presents. Over the years, I am thankful that we pursued discovering how best to love each another in ways that are a blessing. If you are newly married, invest in your relationship! Your investment will pay dividends for years!
We are all called to love everyone, including our family, neighbors, and even those who disagree with us! The truth is, showing love, even when not deserved, should be how others know that we are followers of Jesus.
Look at this scripture passage found in 1 John 4:7-12
“Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.”
Don’t you love that? When we love others, God’s love is brought to full expression in us! God uses us as ambassadors, representing Him!
In I Corinthians 13, we read these words,
“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud, or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.”
This kind of love costs very little to give but is needed desperately in our culture today!
We each can LOVE BIG in SMALL WAYS.
Possibly it’s a kind word to someone who is hurting. WORDS.
Maybe it is shoveling snow or making a meal to help your neighbor. ACTS of SERVICE.
Give a HUG to someone who lives alone. PHYSICAL TOUCH.
Spend time with someone who is lonely. QUALITY TIME.
Send someone a small gift under $10. GIFTS.
Over my lifetime, I realize more and more it’s NOT the big things that matter; it’s the little things. So I’m on a journey of practicing love in small ways that will impact those I influence to experience the love of Christ in a BIG WAY!
Let’s love like Jesus!
Liz
