Looking for Love

How would you finish that sentence? First thing in my mind was “in all the wrong places”, was that yours too? Love comes in a lot of ways, in all shapes and sizes, people, animals, and all the Social Networks. It’s been fun reconnecting with friends from long ago. It is easy to sit at a computer, no make-up, maybe in your jammies, not worrying about how your face or body is being perceived, just talking with your fingers on the keyboard. This is a love that requires little to no commitment, and you can be as complimentary, or as mean, as you desire. Some have used the network to hurt friends by deleting them, or using it for cyber-bullying. I heard something today I want to pass on, when you bully someone, or allow someone else to bully someone or besmirch their reputation, it’s like this: A teacher handed each of her students a piece of paper. She told them to tear, shred, wad into a ball, step on, anything they wanted to do, to the piece of paper. When they had all wreaked havoc with their paper, she told them to take the paper and put it back into its original condition. They tried to smooth, tape, stretch, anything that would help make it look normal, but no one was able to do it. She took some of the sheets and held them up to be viewed by the students and told them, “When you bully someone, or allow someone else to do it without trying to stop it, you damage a person as bad as these sheets of paper are damaged. Even if you try to straighten it out by apologizing, they will never be the same. They will always remember the harsh words and actions taken against them. They will never be restored to their original condition.” She made her point. We all want approval, and love. Some will do anything to gain a nod or approving smile, a pat on the shoulder or a loving hand reached out to them. Some will never get all they need because they have a hole in their soul that no human person can fill. No one can be supportive enough to help fill the void left there by some type of abusive treatment. If you are that person, quit seeking approval and looking for love in all the wrong places, all you get for your trouble is more heartache. Seems like your need becomes blood in the water to certain shark personalities that will use you up and spit you out. It could be that we just fear being alone, 1John 4:18 God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we’re free of worry on Judgment Day—our standing in the world is identical with Christ’s. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment is one not yet fully formed in love.

“He’ll give you peace you never knew, sweet love and joy and heaven too, only Jesus can satisfy your soul!”