What is love?

Last night I was up from 1:30 to 4:00. I was pretty sure that I was going into labor, but the contractions puttered out and I just ended up having a pretty miserable night. As I was sitting on my bathroom floor I started to think about love.

This whole Christmas season is about love. The love of God - who while we were yet sinners sent His only Son that none may perish, but all have eternal life (John 3:15). This time of year we celebrate the birth of Jesus - the beginning of His time on earth which led to the miracle of the cross. It's overwhelming really when you stop to think about it.

And we have all read 1 Cor. 13. The chapter on love. Love is patient, kind, long-suffering...you know the verses. It's read at almost every wedding - both Christian and not- that I attend.

But last night on my bathroom floor, I started thinking about how love gets translated every day. How do I see love? How do I give it? How do I experience it? It all started with an act of kindness by my husband. I love it when God uses a not so great moment in life to remind us of the bigger picture.

So...here's a list. A list of blessings. A list I should spend more time thinking about - pondering over.

1) Our Children- of course I see love in Samuel and Baby girl. It's truly an experience to see the love that you have for your spouse walking around. Before Sam, I had no idea that my heart could actually feel that strongly. Love is hugs before bed, enforcing the naughty spot, playing in the front yard, and singing Deck the Halls 150 times in the car from preschool to home (about a 15 minute drive!)
2) Love is waking your husband up at 2:00 in the morning because you've gotten sick and need help cleaning the bathroom up. Love is your husband telling you to rest and then doing the job himself before getting up at 5 am to go to work. (Sometimes marriage is not pretty, folks).
3) Love is Scott correcting me when I'm wrong. Love is telling me when I need to slow down, rethink, reconsider. Love is Scott being willing to hear my counsel, too. Love is not panicking when we face problems - but remembering that we are on the same team.
4) Love is being firm - steadfast - never wavering. Love is being honest with those around me.
5) Love is sometimes hard to accept and even harder to give.

I love this time of year. I always have loved this time of year. And I'm a bit of a sentimental sap when I'm not pregnant - so throw in being 9 months pregnant this year and I keep hearing myself say remember to ponder as Mary pondered. Read Luke - read how many times that it is written that Mary pondered "all these things" in her heart. I believe that God wants me to always be thinking about the roles that he has for me.

Today I resolve to open the eyes of my heart this season to more pondering so that I may experience the fullness of Christ - more of the love of Christ.