Chapter 16 What Matters Most

The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Galatians 5:14

The chapter also quotes one of my favorite scriptures, "If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing." Corinthians 13:2-3

I'd like to add some more quotes from the book because they are pretty important to knowing what love is and give my thoughts one them. Love has always been a topic that I've given A LOT of attention and thought to so chew on the quotes that jumped out at me.

"Life is all about love."-Simple but not! How hard is it to love everyone like Jesus would have? Thats what I always try to think about when I come in contact with someone... this person is another child of God, I need to love him/her like I would want to be loved, right here, right now in this very situation. Its not always an easy thing to do especially when they are doing their best to make you hate them and you ran out of patience 2 hours ago.

"Learning to love unselfishly is not an easy task. It runs counter to our self-centered nature. That's why we're given a lifetime to learn it."-This made me think about all the times I have been selfish with friends, family or men when it came to my time, things and even my heart... I'm trying to work on this.

"Jesus said our love for each other is our greatest witness to the world."-I just want to be kind to others so that God will smile and be pleased. Also to be an example of God to others so that maybe they will love Him like I do and get to know Him, become a part of His family, if you will.

"How you treated other people, not your wealth or accomplishments, is the most enduring impact you can leave on earth."-I often think about how I will be known when I am gone or how I will "live on." This sentence says it all to me... If I change one life, then that person changes another life, I am living on. As a kindergarten teacher, one of my goals is to make sure that the children leave my classroom knowing what love is because I love them, and will continue to love them even though the make a mistake or act a fool. My love for them is unconditional... I try to be very much like I would imagine Jesus being as a Kindergarten teacher.

"Relationships are what matter most in life."-I find this statement to be very very true because of everything you can share with another person. I have no problem with family and friend relationships. What I have a hard time with is a relationship of committment and love... Committing the rest of my time here on earth to loving 1 man as my husband. I dont know why that is... But I struggle with that. I want so badly to know him and love him and marry him and have babies with him and grow old with him.... sigh! But what I fail to remember that its not in my time but Gods time.

"The essence of love is not what we think or do or provide for others but how much we give of ourselves."(the book also said that men have a harder time with this because they think if they provide that is love, but its giving of you and your time)-This spoke loud to me... I like to think about other peoples relationships and ponder this because I think it all depends on the character of each person. Some women are naturally more giving of themselves and their time but some arent. And the same goes for men. There are also women and men that can tolerate having less time when other cant. So I think it all depends on the couple but there definitely has to be a level of self given, a balance, in each relationship or it will not work.

"You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving. Love means giving up-yielding my preferences, comfort, goals, security, money, energy or time for the benefit of someone else."-I have no words... it speaks for itself. Again another statement that speaks volumes! And one I struggle with!

"The best use of life is love. The best expression of love is time. The best time to love is now."
Ok, so let me start off by saying that this chapter threw me for a loop, especially since I have cut off some of my relationships in the name of God or should I say to refocus my life on God. I'm not saying that was a wrong decision, I'm just confused as ever with what God wants me to do with my love especailly if the best time is now and the best expression is time!! Great chapter though! :)