A day focused on love–Valentines Day.  I Corinthians 13 tells us that it is the most important component of living.  We are also told in scripture to love our neighbor as ourselves.  Men are told to love their wives.  These are all commands from God and not suggestions.  I think I know the importance of love. I have endured the focus on it each Feb. 14th rather than embraced it.  Love has always frightened me.  The physical side of “love” was so abused that I’ve never been able to eliminate the flood of fear that comes to mind when I’m being approached with love.  If I’m giving it I know my intent is pure.  When I’m receiving it I’m OK if I know it is coming.  If I’m startled into it, I want to flee.  These patterns of behavior are certainly better now that God is continuously working on me to be a new creation.  However, the lingering effects still come forth and trigger patterns of behavior from old ways.  With all this said I want to start embracing love.  Love isn’t to be fear invoking and God is removing the fear I’ve housed.  I’m so grateful for this.

God is helping me learn the difference between owning and struggling.  Instead of struggling with my past, it owned me.  God has been so thorough and kind in relentlessly showing me how much His Son Jesus loves me and has provided a thorough cleansing of all this past.  The memories of the past are with me but they don’t induce paralysis.  They more often induce a passion to help others who are stuck.  The deeper side of love for me has become a charge for helping others who are stuck; ones who struggle to know the intimate love God has always intended for them.  If I can be of help for someone with this struggle, I would be so honored.