“It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.” ― Mother Teresa

“No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.” ― Charles Dickens

“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.” ― Winston S. Churchill

Hopefully, everyone continued with the 2 tips from the last 2 days: Don’t say anything negative and an unexpected gesture/act of kindness…

Day 3 – LOVE IS NOT SELFISH

“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor.” Romans 12:10

Love is not selfish. Should we write this 100 times? Love is not selfish.

I don’t think I believe true love is possible if it is in the midst of selfishness. “Selfishness is like a disease that suffocates our capacity to love…Love beautifully finds its satisfaction in the welfare of others. Loving couples are bent on humbling themselves and taking good care of the other flawed human with whom they have chosen to share their lives. They understand that by getting married, they are giving themselves away and releasing the right to live the rest of their lives for themselves. It’s putting the happiness of their partner before their own.” (Kendrick, The Love Dare)

“Unselfish people are a perpetual delight. They make amazing friends and spouses. They are willing to set their own demands aside and lose themselves in the joy of loving, serving, and giving to another…Determine to be the first to demonstrate real love to them, with your eyes wide open.” (Kendrick)

Today’s Challenge:

Continue avoiding negative statements. Kendrick suggests buying something today that says “I was thinking about you today.” I add that it doesn’t have to be expensive. That’s right! A single flower speaks “I was thinking of you today” as much as a dozen. Another unselfish act…offer to watch a movie you know your loved one enjoys. Do a chore for them before they ask…clean out their car or unload the dishwasher perhaps. Little presents have grand messages of love. “It’s the thought that counts” is so true. Presents of the heart…words, gifts, listening to a song they enjoy, cuddling when you aren’t a cuddler, writing a love poem when you aren’t a poet, offering a massage, write a post about how awesome they are on FB, giving to them…unselfishness.

Givers love giving and will do it usually whether the other party gives or not. Isn’t that unfortunate though? Who deserves unselfish love more than an unselfish person? We are all selfish in our own ways, but there are certainly the givers and the takers of the world. Givers may be glad to give for quite some time, but often they empty so much love that their own love bank never receives deposits. They find one day they are not able to believe in the love of the taker any longer. Giving and love…the 2 cannot be torn apart.

Go…what are you waiting on? Go give!

Kim Crawford

02.02.18 revised

06.30.14