Sisters With Voices “What Is Your Love For Yourself --- That Others May Know”
1 Corinthians 13:1-13; Matthew 5:3-12; Luke 6:27-36
We have been taught love, shown love, to respect love, and to give love. We ask ourselves, do WE know what make, us feel loved in order for others to know? It’s like the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you want them to do unto you”. We find love in the words of the Lord in 1 Corinthians 13: 1-13; “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. Love is patient, love is kind. It is not envious, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It ALWAYS protects, ALWAYS trusts, ALWAYS hopes, and ALWAYS preserves. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled, where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: Faith, Hope and Love. But the greatest of these is LOVE.As we read very carefully in the first three verse in 1. Cor. 13:1-3, Jesus clearly tell us, if we only spoke the language to humans and angels, we would understand and be knowledgeable (educate) and our faith would be strong. Without the desire to do better in talking the language, learning, and believing we will be nothing. Jesus goes into detail and breaks down what “Love” truly is for us. We need all three Faith, Hope, and Love but the greatest of them is Love.With love being the greatest of them all and since Jesus has spoken to us how we should love others, I ask the question; “What is your love for yourself --- that others may know”? You have talked to your friends, family, co-workers, church members and even strangers they have told you “take time for yourself”, or “get to know yourself” or “learn to love yourself”, and it sounds good. But do you really know yourself enough to be able to answer the questions? There are five love languages that you should truly ask yourself which one best describes me. Let me help by having you look at yourself in the mirror, to understand your love (type) for you or should I say the love language.1. Words: A person that likes to hear words of encouragement, uplifting, appreciation for the things they do, to be noticed in all aspects, help build you up. For example: dinner was great, you like nice, thanks for taking out the trash, the yard looks great, I will join you in losing weight, I understand that you had a bad day but tomorrow will be a better day. The bible says love is kind which is based on your tone
2. Quality Time: A person that likes to have some one to spend time with, doing things together like going to the park, movie, dinner, lunch, taking trips, giving each other your attention, so long as the two of you are together and sharing that time together. For example: making eye contact, doing something the other person likes, set aside time (15-30min.) to give to each other, find a favorite spot to talk, have a night in front of the fireplace with popcorn or have lunch together.
3. Receiving Gifts: People that like to be given gifts to show you or to remember my love for you. It does not matter the face value: flowers, card, necklace, purse, and dinner, just anything where you express your love and giving of yourself For example: doing a crises or happy moments (birth of a child, lost job, death someone, etc…), homemade gifts, give a book, give a living gift, (plant a tree), gift of nature (flowers, rocks, butterflies, plant, spa, nails, salon visits) or ask friends/family members what the person likes.
4. Act of Service: People that like doing things like cleaning house, washing dishes, folding clothes, washing clothes, repairs around the house, car, or handy person, pay bills, keeping the kids in order, anything to make that persons life or day a little easier. This is how they show their love for you. The bible says serve one another with love as Jesus washed the feet of the disciples—an act of service.
5. Physical Touch: A person that likes to be touched holding hands, kissing, a hug, or sex is how they express and feel loved and feel secure in the relationship. For example: walking passed that someone and you rub up against them, hands on shoulders, back or foot massages, during dinner place hand on top of yours, or rub feet up and down your legs under the table, walking in the park holding hands, watching T.V. and you lay across the person, take baths together, or give a hug or kiss when you come through the door.
So I propose the question to you again “What Is Your Love For Yourself --- That Others May Know”. This year let it be about your love for God and yourself so much so that you will not be searching for love in all the wrong places and choosing the wrong people. As the motto of Sisters With Voices Be True To Yourself---Be True To God.
