by Paula Stahl

Created on: March 03, 2007   Last Updated: April 30, 2007

Many of us say, quite sincerely, that love is the most important thing in our lives.
We all know, that in the end, how much money is left in our bank account, or how clean our house is, or, what kind of car we have is not as important as how much love we spread. How many people loved us, and how many we loved, how we shared that love and how did we impact people is what will remain after we are long gone.

But, in our lives, often we focus on other things. Too many other things. We focus on weather we will look silly or foolish if we do what we are thinking. We focus on getting what we want, winning arguments, seeking recognition, consuming material things and even wishing people were different than they are. We think that we will spend more time with those we love when we get the savings account built up, when the car gets washed, when the children behave better, when my partner stops doing what they are doing, when I get through this stressful time. Whatever, you fill in the blank. What really matters in a loving life, is our willingness to remain loving and respond loving during the more difficult moments.
My grandpa used to tell me that troubles do not make a person troublesome, they show you what they are made of. It is in the troubles in peoples lives that we see how they react, and weather or not it is with love. If we want love to live and grow in our lives then we have to remember love is not just a noun. The word is a verb too.
Choosing true love requires choosing loving actions. We have dozens of chances every day to make loving choices- choices that translate into warm feelings, gratitude, acceptance, postitive relationships and hope.
It is often easier said than done. We are constantly confronted with obstacles, and situations that dont seem to warrent a loving responce. We can also rationalize our choices, and tell ourselves that it was appropriate to be angry in a certain situation, or that another person does not deserve our love. And it may even be true.
But, shouldn't you extend the same curtesy to others when they act less than loving? When we upset someone, should we not understand that they too, will have choices to make in how they respond?
I am not saying that a person should act loving all the time when it may not be appropriate, or that you should act loving when you dont feel loving. What I am saying is that love starts within our hearts. It is a choice. You choose to take the risk to love, and you choose to continue to love, and you choose

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