Love is a verb

"Let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." 1 John 3:18

Some may say that I live in a bubble or that I live in some alternate mindset that is not reality. Truth is I just live my life one breathe at at time. I do not watch the news, I do not listen to the news, and I frankly just don't care. If I see an article or video that intrigues me then I will go read or watch. If I see something heart warming that I feel could brighten someones day or give credit where credit is due then I share.

Quite often I look at the world around me and the people. We want to bash millenials for having a phone in their hand. But that is just the time they grew up in. We want to bash the children of today for screen time. But that is the world they are being raised in. We want to bash the Gen X for not wanting smart phones or fancy tv's. But that is not the way they have lived life and don't care to. I remember when we convinced mom to get a smart phone. The woman was in her 60's and half time cared less if she had it. Until she figured out she could stalk her children and talk to her grand daughter. She found it exciting then. My point is why do we have to bash each other. We could all take time to learn from each other. The babyboomers could learn how to search online for a necessary item and the millenials could learn value of a front porch chat.

I get stuck in the middle quite often with how I view life. The image with this post says so many things. I never meet a stranger and most know this. I will interrupt my whole day if it means talking to an elderly person who just wants a chat with a stranger. I think we as a people get caught up in what we think is right or should be done based on our perspective.

For some they need that front porch chat to feel whole. For some the hour long text message thread is a form of solid communication. I titled this post "Love is a Verb" and most think that means an action. Well, let me put a spin on that for a minute. Verb is a word used to describe an action. Learning someones love language and how to best fill their soul with life is an action. Learning how they feel comfortable socializing and what you can do to help them is an action. Its a definite spin on the term but think about it. Loving someone doesn't necessarily mean grand gestures and materialistic items. For a special someone it can mean learning how to communicate to them and doing it. What triggers them to feel insecure or upset, what makes them smile, or best yet what is it that makes them feel alive. The you reinforce those things with your choices and behavior. For a best friend it could be learning favorite foods, or coffee, or just simply what is happening in life. Crossing paths with a complete stranger it could simple mean saying hello.

In the current times we live in there seems to be nothing but hate and anger spewing from every corner. If you look closely there is still love. I think we are so quick to judge when we see a social media post, hear a rumor, or see someone out and about. Why? Just stop yourself. Remind yourself of the "action" involved in what you are about to do or say. Is it love? Is it kind? Is it worth the few seconds of energy you are about to use? The answer is going to be no. Focus that energy on complimenting someone, or randomly buying a strangers coffee, or just simply being kind. Love is a verb. Let that sink in as you move through the day.