KEYS TO LOVE

Matthew 22:36-38 (Today’s New International Version, ©2005)

³⁶ “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
 ³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’^[a] 38This is the first and greatest commandment.

The second greatest commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself. If we would love others the way we love ourselves, it would solve a lot of problems. I like the following poem written by Robert M. Millay.

      THE KEYS TO LOVE

      The key to love is understanding . . .

           the ability to comprehend

           not only the spoken word,

           but those unspoken gestures,

           the little things that say

           so much by themselves.

     The key to love is forgiveness . . . 

           to accept each other's faults

           and pardon mistakes,

           without forgetting ―

           but with remembering

           what you learn from them.

     The key to love is trust . . . 

           though dark doubts

           lay in hollowed thoughts,

           it must shine brightly on

           with reassuring radiance

           that suppresses fear with faith.

     The key to love is sharing . . . 

           facing your good fortunes

           as well as the bad, together;

           both conquering problems ―

           forever searching for ways

           to intensify your happiness . . .

     The key to love is giving . . .

           without thought of return,

           but with the hope of just

           a simple smile

           and by giving-in, but never up.

  

     The key to love is respect . . .

           realizing that you are 

           two separate people

           with different ideas;

           that you don't belong to each other,

           but that you belong with each other

           and share a mutual bond.

     The key to love is inside us all . . .

           it takes time and patience 

           to unlock all the ingredients

           that will take you to its threshold;

           it is a continual learning process

           that demands a lot of work . . . 

           but the rewards are more than

           worth the effort . . . 

               And you

                    are the key

                         to me.

― Robert M. Millay

I hope everyone has a great weekend and a great Spiritual Sunday. Please go to that blog for links to many inspirational posts.