"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." I John 4:7-11

Is it just a word we say? Is it a feeling? Is it chocolates and flowers? Is it a hug or a kiss or a date night? Is it a verb? Why is society obsessed with it? Why is there a specific holiday to celebrate it? What is it about love that makes people go crazy — in one way or another?

Perhaps it’s not any of those things…and yet all of those things. God is the creator of love and is therefore the source of it. He is the epitome of love. He is love in the purest form. He IS love. All those other things are mankind’s attempt at expressing love. And like all things that mankind attempts, it can be easily twisted into something it’s not. The problem is not in the giving of a gift or a kiss or a word to express our love for someone. When we get to the point that we believe that one of those things is ALL that love is, is where we are horribly mistaken.

Can you love someone without ever telling them? Absolutely!

Can you tell someone you love them but not actually feel it? It happens all too often.

But can you pour out the love of Christ on someone without first being filled with His love yourself first? I think not! You cannot give what you do not possess.

"We can offer our residents tools to bring about success in life — but that has to start with Jesus. It's our job to teach them how a relationship with God changes everything." - Reginald Blackmon (Houseparent Supervisor)"

When God – the purest form of love – dwells inside of us, we possess the power to love as He does. We are called to take that love and share it with others in the different ways that people desire or need to be shown love, so that those gestures of love they may be pointed to the Source of love.

THAT is love.