Is there any such thing as a recipe for love? I dunno, but maybe this comes close:
Love isn’t just a feeling, it’s something that you *do,* right? Interestingly, the verb-love often leads to or enhances the noun-love.
So…define “love.” Aside from feeling all warm & fuzzy, (and aside from a little sheet music,) what is it, how do you do it?
I think Ephesians 4 is a good place to start. The theme of chapter four is unity, love for each other, taking off the bad and putting on the good. It’s all summed up in the last two verses. Let go of the anger, the bitterness, and the negativity. Put it away from you and don’t let it be a part of you. Instead, be kind, compassionate, and forgiving. In this way, we love.
Background Image Source: Red Tulips by Anna Langova
I heard of a great exercise to help one relate to the effects of holding onto bitterness on the radio the other day. You fill your mouth with vinegar and swish it around for a minute or two and really concentrate on the strength of it and how it is effecting your taste buds. Afterwards you pop a peppermint in your mouth and allow it to remove the effects of the vinegar. The peppermint stands for the power of God’s love if when we allow him to remove bitterness.
Awesome visualization, Victoria!!
P.S. Swishing vinegar would be really nasty, wouldn’t it??