Today is Valentine’s day ♥
It’s not a huge day that we celebrate for many reasons including St. Valentine’s actual unpleasant life circumstances and also the commercialism around Valentine’s.
I read a great book about love recently called “All About Love” by Bell Hooks. I highly recommend it. It was like going through a retreat. My highlights sync to Goodreads so you can get “Maria’s cliff notes” here (no login required).
Anyway, I digress.
I’ve been spending more time reflecting and praying in the mornings and I want to start sharing something new. I keep a journal (OneNote file, cuz I can’t read my handwriting) of any messages/thoughts I hear and I thought I’d start sharing them if my heart is so inclined. Since being exposed to the Charistmaic Renewal, I’ve believed that some of these messages may be the very word of God speaking to me, and others are my ability to reflect on my own thoughts in the context of a happy place with the Holy Spirit. These posts will be a little different, more like poetry, but I’d love to have them to reflect on at a later time. So here goes!
What is love, but the giving of oneself
To another
To a thing
To oneself anew.
It is the giving and the willingness of it that makes it love.
Love is in the world
But not of the world.
Love reflects its Maker
And the act of love unites us with its Maker, who made us, through the sinews of itself.
Love is patient and kind and all that…
But love may be reticent,
Hesitant,
Awkward,
Unsure.
But love takes that first step
Even after a misstep.
Because with love comes hope
In new life, new beginnings, new chances
Which is why where there is love and hope, there is life.
And let us have it to the full!