Action:

“Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” - 1 john 3:18

Love is a wonderfully controversial topic, leaving the delicate mystery and part of the unknown intertwined within. To love someone with action, as well as with words, takes energy, perseverance, and a willingness to move forward. The author of 1 John made a certainly brave claim: don't fail to love by using just words, words that can quickly turn empty and unoccupied; show love through action- work.

Contrary to popular believe, when I was a youngster I was quite the hyperactive difficult little Mann. Every and all behavior seemed to be against authority figures – mom and dad. More often than not I would completely disregard anything my mom would tell me to do, and often that would hurt her deeply. I’d soon see the impact of my actions on her, see the hurt, and I would quickly try to turn around and “fix” things. “Mom, I’m sorry. I love you so much. I really love you. You are the best mom I've ever seen”

I would say these words as if they were the mend and restore all things preset. I was under the impression that telling someone you love them takes away all pain, suffering, heart-ache, anger, frustration… this was not the case. My mom would confront me with truth. She would say, “Eric, you always tell me you love me, but try showing me you love me. You never show love to me.”

Powerful and poignant words have never rang truer. I could and can say all the empty words I want in an attempt to convice those around me that I love them. However, in the end, if my words and my behavior don’t match-up, then my words mean nothing and my idea of love is a blowing in the wind. SImply put: they contradict one another.

My hearts desire is to love with my behavior; I desire to love with my action. To do this takes time, energy, and work. It also takes focusing on the needs of others, believing with faith in hope. Following. But who ever said loving other people was an easy task?

LOVE DOES WIN.

Eric