I was only 4 years old at the time. A time in my life where I found myself in trouble quite frequently. Whether I was pestering my younger sister or sneaking an extra cookie, I was a little stinker to say the least.
Apparently, this one particular day I found myself facing consequences for my lack of sharing skills at the time. I remember finding my way into time-out in my room, sitting by the window which overlooked the driveway. Within a few minutes, my daddy came driving down the driveway, home from work for the day. I remember a feeling of nervousness falling over me as I anxiously anticipated telling my daddy what I had done.
He walked in the door. I heard him kiss my mother and sisters. And within a few moments, he was standing in the doorway. Tears flooded my eyes, "Daddy, I'm sorry! I didn't share my toys. I'm so sorry!" In that moment, I felt my daddy's arms cradling me. I must have been shocked, I can't quite recall. But I remember my daddy hugging me, telling me he loved me. He explained why sharing is something I should do, and to be kind to my sisters. But despite my downfall, despite my disobedience that day, he still loved me.
"And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." ~ Colossians 3:14 (NIV)
Looking back on that time in my life, I can't help but think about how my sweet daddy (who is now in heaven with Jesus) put on a clothing of love each day. How, even through the dark and hard parts of life including parenting, he still showed up in a loving way, just as our heavenly Father instructs us to do.
If you read a few verses back, in verse 12 it says, "Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." And then in verse 14, it reads, "And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." So by clothing ourselves in love first and foremost, we end up taking on the other virtues of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. It's a packaged deal, y'all! But it starts and ends with love.
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines love as, "strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties" and as "the object of attachment, devotion, or admiration". I also like this one, "unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another: such as the fatherly concern of God for humankind." There are several definitions for love, as there are many different forms of love. Which is why I wanted to explore this word love this week in our journaling prompt.
This week's journal prompt:
What does the word "Love" mean to me?
Take some time this week to stop and reflect on this question - what does the word "Love" mean to me? We know that there is an official definition of the word "love", but what does it mean, when you dig deep into your soul, to you? How do you interpret love in your own life and how does love play out in your day?
A few ideas for helping you think through the prompt this week:
1. Write about an experience in your life where you felt truly loved. Reflect on that experience. Why was this time in your life significant? What about this experience made you feel loved? What life lesson did you, or can you, pull from this moment?
2. Consider this week's Bible verse, Colossians 3:14. What does it mean to clothe yourself in love?
3.Create your own definition for the word "love". Forget the Merriam-Webster version mentioned above. Sit with the word "love", meditate and pray about the word, and then simply write on a notecard or paper how you personally define the word.
4. Start a timer (about 10 minutes) and begin writing a list. Write the word "LOVE" at the top of the sheet and when time starts, list everything and anything that comes to mind when you think of love.
5. Listen to a song that evokes love for you. While listening to the song, or after listening, take a moment to write down the feelings, memories, etc. that come to mind.
Let's get you moving:
Yoga allows us to open our bodies in various ways, addressing various parts of our body including our organs. As we explore love this month, let's take some time to nourish our hearts through movement and reflect as you do so.
One (amazing) way to nourish the heart is through inversions. Inversions, in simple terms, are postures that put you in an upside down position. Examples of inversions include, Downward Dog, Bridge Pose, Handstands and even Legs Up the Wall. The purpose of an inversion is to allow the blood to flow freely to the heart, giving your heart a mini break. We tend to come to inversions after movement and deep breathing, as we have oxygenated and nourished the blood (hence, heart healthy!)
For this week, explore a few Sun Salutations in your practice. After you move a bit on your mat, come to a wall in Legs Up the Wall to give your heart a little love. Breathe deeply as you rest in this amazing and restorative posture.
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