The True Meaning of Love

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, the true meaning of love can get lost underneath the candy, gifts, and giant stuffed animals. Today’s youth may view love as something to be bought and wrapped. In reality, love is beyond a price. As parents, it’s our responsibility to teach our children about the true meaning of love in ways that can be applied in their lives today and for years to come. If we can demonstrate to our children what love truly means, we can rest a little easier knowing that they have an example to follow when they get older.

• Love is growing in your faith. Romantic love, the bond between siblings, and friendship are all beautiful examples of love. We must always keep in mind, however, that the love we receive from God is the most beautiful and important of all.  Pray as a family with your children, go to church together, and make sure they say a prayer before bed time.
• Teach Them to Think of Others. Always strive to be examples of kindness for your children. Love isn’t selfish – show them to be courteous of other’s feelings. Let your children know to be cautious with their choice of words. We should all try our best to make people feel good and happy, whether to strangers or our own spouses.
• Random Acts of Kindness. Whether it is helping grandma carry in the groceries or volunteering to clean up the table after dinner, encouraging your children to display acts of kindness is essential to building good character and demonstrating the true meaning of love. Gifts and balloons are thoughtful expressions of love, but in the long run, the day-to-day acts of service we do for one another are what truly display love.

Consider this Bible verse:
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no records of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres. Love never fails” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8 NIV).  

Happy Valentine's Day!