We’ve had two weddings in two months in our family, so love is definitely in the air.
Love is one of those words that is both a noun and a verb.
Our culture emphasizes the noun form of this word, the emotion or feeling, referring to “falling in (or out of) love” as if it is something that happens to one, without conscious thought or choice.
We’ve watched two children “fall in love” with wonderful people this past year and it’s fun to behold.
But as delicious as those early feelings (noun) of falling in love are, it’s the living (verb)-the doing-of love that will prove most important.
Elder Lynn G Robbins asserts: “because love is as much a verb as it is a noun, the phrase “I love you” is much more a promise of behavior and commitment than it is an expression of feeling.” (“Agency and Love in Marriage”, Ensign, Oct 2000)
Focused this way-love as a verb-we can (and must, if love is to last) choose to live love.
We live love when we put another’s needs before our own. When we seek her happiness and do things for him even when it is inconvenient.
We live love when we are gentle and kind, patient and protective of the other’s feelings. When we recognize the good in one another and speak of those things.
We live love when we encourage each other and listen to understand.
We live love in forgiving quickly and showing appreciation for each other.
We live love in a dozen small ways every day. Choosing to do those things that show and produce love, even when feelings ebb and flow.
The Savior’s injunction to ‘love one another’ is a command to do, much more than a command to feel.
And beautifully, the feeling follows when the actions are consistently present.
Perhaps that is how the Savior loves so completely, regardless of reciprocity-because He lives love perfectly.
Sacrifice, commitment, loyalty, selflessness, long-suffering, kindness, forgiveness, patience.
Love lived.
