Last month the Super Bowl aired a commercial for New York Life Insurance that focused on the four different Greek words for love: Philia, Storge’, Eros, and Agape. I thought it was incredibly touching–you can watch it here:
I wish that I was better at showing love. I would love to tell you that I treat my husband like every day is Valentine’s Day. I wish I was the Momma that patiently loved her children and never lost her temper. I wish that I was the type of person that when others were around me they felt more loved than before. But, alas, I am a huge failure at it most of the time. I am usually more focused on receiving rather than giving or I’m so involved in my own problems that I forget to be kind. Sometimes loving others feels so hard and it doesn’t come naturally. I guess that’s why this commercial was so special to me. It reminds me that everyone deserves to feel loved, to be treated as special, to be heard and to be seen. More than anything, I want to be like the people I see in this commercial–especially when it comes to showing Agape love.
But, I am reminded that–in my own power–I can’t. I am not capable of loving others as deeply as they so desperately need without first accepting the love of the One who created love to begin with. To love others in that way–I need to know and I want you to know–how much God loves us. So much so that He sent His Son to die on a cross for our sins. We don’t have it in us to love the way He does–it’s impossible. But, what I’m learning is that the more I accept His unconditional love for me–the better able I am to love the ones He has put in my life.
I hope and pray that today– of all days– you feel loved. If you don’t have a special someone or friend or family member to say the words, let me say them right now: Happy Valentine’s Day! I love you!
