When we're young, love comes so easy....but as we eventually find out, in most cases that "love" is actually infatuation. I was talking with another single friend the other day about the challenges of finding true love later in life. In part because we realize now what true love actually is. We realize now that love is a choice, one we must chose to make. I think about those times when I was younger and sooo in love with someone. Back then I didn't choose to love, I just did. Back then that person hung the moon and the stars....back then that person might have slowly edged God out as #1 in my life. But as we all know, those times don't last. The burning flames eventually burn out if not sustained by an even stronger source. By not making a conscious choice to love, my "love" was based on superficial things and fleeting emotions. Neither of these are strong enough to keep love burning for long.
Instead, by choosing to love, our love is based on something that runs deep, on a source that is sustainable; the person's core values, the strengths they've been blessed with, the way they treat us - these are the things that matter. Our love is given in spite of the person's weaknesses and in spite of their annoying habits. Our love then, far more resembles the lasting, undeniable love of Christ and for that reason it will burn stronger, longer. This, I believe, is of far greater value than anything else in this world.
During our conversation, my friend lamented that as we get older we find it harder to trust someone yet easier to find their faults. I realized then how great the choice to love really is. To love someone in spite of their faults is a gift that we give them. More importantly, it's a gift that we give ourselves. As we chose to love someone, we're giving ourselves the opportunity to grow and become more like Christ - our ultimate goal here on this Earth. And, as we chose to love someone we're able to better experience and understand the undeniable love of Christ, that he would lay his life down for us.
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