Commit to Love

I was at my best friend's wedding over the weekend. It was a beautiful wedding. A perfect wedding. As all weddings usually are. Well, except for those weddings you see on AFV where the bride falls face down in the cake or the groom forgets to zip his pants. Sad but kind of funny.
Anyway, needless to say, it took me back to my wedding day. 8 years ago, my love and I sealed our love for each other before God and family and friends. Weddings are beautiful things. It is the point in that special relationship when you realize that love is beyond a feeling, it is a choice. A choice in spite what you feel and so you decide to commit to love till death do you part.
I feel that we can really use this kind of commitment in all our relationships - sibling relationships, friendships, relationships with our parents, co-workers and almost any other relationship we have. Feelings are not reliable indicators of what a relationship's value is. A lot of things can affect the way you feel at any point of time. So, we shouldn't let valuable relationships ride on feelings. Love is a choice; not a feeling. And even though we don't take vows in all of our relationships, they are still valuable and should be treated with the same commitment.
Imagine what this kind of commitment can do to the relationships in your life. Life long friends, precious memories, forgiveness, deeper connections and of course more love.

Love Challenge #2

So, it is time for the next love challenge. I have decided to pull the next few weekly challenges from the Love passage in the Bible.
1Corinthians 13 v 4 - 7. It reads:
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."

The motivation for this week's challenge is the very first statement of this passage-
"Love is Patient".

So, this week is all about extending my patience. The definition of patience as taken from dictionary.com is

"the quality of being patient, as the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain, without complaint, loss of temper, irritation, or the like"

The key - without complaint. This is going to be interesting. So quite honestly, I am really mad that my hubby dearest has yet again forgotten to put the trash out. Hmm...without complaint, I shall do it myself when the little one takes a nap. I guess thats a start.
Its going to be a long week!

Join me in this challenge. Some ways to practice patience:
- do not raise your voice, no matter what (that is going to be a tough one fore me)
- walk/ drive away from a provocative situation- be that your spouse, room mate, or a rash driver.
- spend sometime daily thanking God for all the good in your life. It is hard to lose your patience when you are in an attitude of gratitude.

Got love?

A simple love quote

Love is the Answer that everyone seeks.
Love is the language that every heart speaks.
Helen Steiner Rice

Love Can Move Mountains

Remember this old Celine Dion song - "Love Can Move Mountains". I believe it!

Check out these few verses.

There ain't a dream that don't
Have a chance
To come true now
It just takes a little faith baby
Anything that we want to do
We can do now
There ain't nothing in our way baby
Nothing our love couldn't raise above
We can get through the night
We can get to the light
Long as we got our love to
Light the way
With a little faith
Just a little trust
If you believe in love
Love can move mountains
Believe in your heart
And feel, feel it in your soul
And love baby love can
Move mountains.

Read my blog tomorrow for an inspirational story of someone whose love literally moved mountains.

The Box for Haiti

This week's love challenge is to give. And as I said I would, I dropped of a box for Haiti at a local church that is shipping a container this weekend.

I dressed Izzy up right after her breakfast and we spent the whole morning and quite a bit of the afternoon shopping to fill our box. She was such a sport. Didn't fuss once. We filled it with cotton clothes for kids of all ages, bottles, diapers, formula, but most of all medical supplies.

I had a list and was making my way through it hoping to get done before Izzy's nap time. As I was standing in the medical supplies aisle at the grocers, filling my cart with band aids, antiseptic cream, Motrin, Advil, gauze and so on, I felt a sudden heaviness in my heart. It was as if being forced to slow down and take in the moment. Not really in control of it, tears started pouring down my cheeks and I prayed earnestly for fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, daughters and sons, friends and loved ones who were in pain.

When that box gets to Haiti and the relief workers there open it, they will see a few things they can use that could hardly cover the need around them. However, there is something in that box that the eye does not see but is all powerful. Love.

To you dear loved one, far in distance but near in heart. We have never met but we love you.

"Do It Anyway"

This is one of my favorite quotes, if you may call it a quote. This is Mother Teresa's version of the "The Paradoxical Commandments" originally written by Dr. Kent M. Keith. This version is said to have been found written on the wall in Mother Teresa's home for children in Calcutta (and personally I like it a little better :)

People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.

What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.

Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.

So true. I try to remind myself of these words often. I would hate to get to the end of my life and look back to see that I lived it based on other's lives. I want to be me anyway, in spite of anyone. I want to love anyway.

A Walk Down Memory Lane and then some cookies

Jan 13th, two years ago, I made a special call to my mom. "We're having a baby" I screamed into the phone even before she could say hi.

It was my 30th birthday and we had just found out that we were having our first baby. Being pregnant was so much fun - emotions, cravings, extreme fatigue, backache, giggles, heightened sense of smell, nausea...you get the point. It was also when I felt the most out of control of everything in my life and needed constant support and encouragement.

So today I decided that I would buy some flowers for a dear friend who is expecting her first baby and bake some chocolate chip cookies for another friend who is expecting her second. It was a joy for me to pick out the flowers and bake with my little assistant close at hand. I love both these women and wish the best for them. Be blessed dear friends. I pray for safe pregnancies and EASY DELIVERIES :)

Love Challenge #1

HAITI!

So, here is my first weekly love challenge

Give.

My pastor often says: "You can give without loving but you cannot love without giving."

So true. Love is more than a warm fuzzy feeling. Love beckons action. So I am stepping outside the "oh thats so sad" box and into the "What can I do to help?" box.

There are many disaster relief agencies that are raising resources for Haiti. I visited the site of a local church that is collecting items that they need the most in Haiti to send over to at the soonest. The deadline for collection is Wednesday. So over the next few days I will fill a box and drop it off on Tuesday evening. I will update you on my progress:)

If you have some ideas or information on how to help Haiti...leave a comment for all to read.

In case you are local and want to join in on the effort with me. Here is the list of things I will be collecting:

Medications/Medical Supplies:
Aspirin, Motrin, Benadryl, Neosporin/antibiotic cream, cough medication, ace bandages, gauze, latex gloves, thermometers, alcohol, scissors, Band-Aids and multi-vitamins.

Other items:
Small stuffed animals for children, cardboard boxes, sheets and blankets, children’s t-shirts and shorts, undergarments, socks, shoes, diapers, baby bottles and formula.

Dare to Love?

A few days ago a young friend asked me - "What is your new year resolution?" I didn't take but a moment to answer. I had been thinking of it for a few weeks now. "To Love better" I said with a grin as if just the words exiting my mouth made them magically come true. NOT. Oh if it were only that easy!

You know that feeling that bubbles within when your toddler throws herself on the floor in a tantrum at the check out stand at Target, or when a Humvee cuts you off in traffic as if the road is his backyard, or your spouse steps over the basket of laundry that you strategically placed by his side of the bed, because he still believes in the "laundry fairy". I can assure you that feeling is not love.

However, a truth has taken root in my heart. A simple yet profound truth. And I wish for it to reflect in my life - in my thoughts, in my words and in my actions.

That truth - LOVE NEVER FAILS.

You see, love is compounding in nature. It does not sit back and not act. It does not withhold. It does not go forth without effect. Love does not end.

Its going to be a challenge but not impossible.

I hope to post a small love note everyday (pray for me). Please leave comments and suggestions and even better join with me.

Dare to love?