Love...

So I have been thinking a lot about love lately. Not the mushy romance kind, but true love. The type of love that causes people to forgive and forget, no matter what. The type of love that causes people to open their hearts to others no matter the pain that may follow. The type of love that inspires to faithfulness and compassion, no matter what. The type of love that causes someone to give their life, no matter what.

Thinking about love really made me look around at the relationships I share with the people in my life right now. I looked at them and found something lacking. And I think it was commitment. The commitment that says "No matter what". Now, don't get me wrong, I have great relationships with my family and friends. But settling for great is no longer enough.

This world is constantly searching for something real, not just great. Something that will always be true. Someone that will say no matter what.

Are you willing to be that example of real love? Are you willing? No matter the pain, the waiting, the ridicule, the disdain, the dark nights, the horrible storms, the endless days, the stress, the sickness, the poverty or wealth...no matter what?

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."

John 15:13

Just because...

I love Dove Dark Chocolate! It is one of the things on my happiest of happy's list.

What makes it so special? Not only is the chocolate simply amazing and an incredible confidence booster when it feels like the kingdom of Advanced Excel, or life, is just too much to handle; the wrappers make me smile. (OR laugh, when they are really stupid.)

If you were a dove dark chocolate what would your wrapper say? What would be your message to the world? Would it be something like…

“Look at the reflection of the leaves in your favorite pond.”

(Pretty ponds are few and far between in Oklahoma because they are all red. So I looked at the reflection in the standing water on our pool cover :P)

“Promise yourself a smile today.” Or

“Whisper in the dark.” Or

“Smile when you want to, cry when you need to and laugh whenever possible.” Or

“Do a little more each day than you think is possible”

What are you going to inspire others to do or be?

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose." Jim Elliot