Post Valentine's Thoughts

"Dear friends, let us continually love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born from God and knows God."

-1 John 4:7

Even though, I have never had a date on Valentine's Day, I still love February 14. No, God knows that I'm not ready to date and He'll send someone my way when I'm ready. But there are many other loves that are never get the recognition of a special day and yet, are just as important if not more. The Greeks had four different words for Love, in english there is only one. No wonder everyone is always fed up with love--it's so constantly overused. I love pizza, I love my mom--I'm putting my love for my mother on the same scale as pizza.

The first type of love the Greeks called Eros. Eros is what Valentine's Day has become based on, the attraction one has to the opposite sex, the sexual attraction type of love. I believe that while Eros is important when one has found a mate, it's not essentially important one is seriously considering a spouse. 

The next love was Storge, the family love. It is the love that I have for my mother and my sister. It's the type of love that even though I can be completely frustrated with them, at the end of the day, I would do anything for these people. I believe that this love can also be incorporated into other people groups in our lives. For instance, I believe that my home church of TSC is also my family and I would do many things for them and I care about them deeply. I hope that eventually, I will be able to love my Tharp and Starlite family in the same way. 

The next, Philia, is the brotherly love, or friend love. It is the love that we have for others, the one that leads us to hold doors for someone or help them carry groceries. This could be one of the most beautiful loves, however, it is also the love that happens to fall by the wayside. So much joy can be brought out of this love, it truly makes my day when someone shows Philia to me, and hope that we can try our hardest to show more Philia to the world. Lord knows we need more of it.

The next, Agape is the most important love. It is the unconditional love, the love that is shown despite the mistakes and wrongs. It is the love that God shows to us everyday and the one that is most miraculous. It is also the most difficult love to have as selfishness and pride must die so Agape can bloom. I will never cease to be amazed at the grace that God shows me, I cannot even fathom how He can love me, I neglect Him constantly yet God shows me Agape and welcomes me back with open arms. This type of love is what all the other types of love are based from, without it we cannot know what love is. "We love because God first loved us." -1 John 4:19

I was so blessed, because this Valentine's Day I was able to celebrate three loves, Storge (family love), Philia (friend love), and Agape (God's love). Friday night, I sporadically picked up a dear friend from her college and was able to spend Valentine's Day with her. We along with other friends of mine, were able to simply spend a beautiful night in each other's presence. It was truly and wonderful night of exploring and friendship. I think it was sometime that morning though that I realized that I was truly loved, when everyone else was asleep and I was able to just sit in the presence of my Father, reading a love letter from Him, that I realized that this would undoubtedly be a Day of Love. 

Now, to strive to live everyday showing and celebrating Storge, Philia, Agape and maybe one day, Eros.