What is Love?

Here’s the biblical definition of “agape” love–the kind of love that God has for us:  A mental attitude that causes us to want to pursue the welfare of others, with no bitterness or ill will for any sacrifices we might need to make in this endeavor.

We occasionally see amusing articles about how children define love.  Some are cute, and others are touching, but children rarely understand “agape” love.  Let’s check some of their definitions:

– “Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day.”

This is a cute image, but it’s probably not reflective of “agape” love.  It’s more of an emotional attachment.

– “When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you.”

– “Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford.”

Like most people, these kids got “agape” love confused the sexual love.

– “Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken.”

– “Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs.”

– “When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn’t bend over and paint her toenails anymore.  So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That’s love.”

These are more indicative of “agape” love, including the idea of giving and sacrificing.

– A child’s next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife.  Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman’s yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there.  When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, “Nothing, I just helped him cry.”

This one is touching as well as biblical.  The boy wanted the best for his neighbor, and he unselfishly sacrificed his time for him.

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