4 Ways to Refuel Your Love
My boys recently learned that I write patents for a living so they’ve become incessant with questions about inventing. One day this week, as I tried to balance lockdown with a family of six and a full time job, my boys literally followed me around all day with updates on their latest invention: a “jetpack propelled personal flying device”. It seems they’ve inherited their dad’s penchant for creativity! They were so excited, but I found myself feeling irritated by them and all the things that seemed to be coming at me. Right now, as with everyone else, my plate is especially full.
1 Corinthians 16:14 (NIV), is a short yet powerful verse. It tells us to “do everything in love.” My new favorite, the passion translation (TPT), says the verse this way, “let love and kindness be the motivation behind all you do.” This has really been resonating with me. I feel God is reminding me that I need to do everything in love. That love would be my motivation.
I’m so thankful for Pastor Tami’s FAME Women blog. Just in time that day, I remembered her blog post on the S.T.O.P. principle that encouraged us to stop complaining. As I re-read her post, I was inspired to write my own set of L.O.V.E. principles to help us love others in the midst of having full plates. Here are my four steps to doing everything in love:
L augh with a Friend
-Smile and laugh with a friend. This is a quick way to dispel lies.
-I made a phone call to a close friend and we laughed. A lot!
O bey & Pray
-Spend time in prayer, listen & obey what God says
-I repented for not seeking God first & gave the day back to Him
V erse
-Get a verse and use it to speak truth to yourself
-I read 1 Corinthians 13:4 TPT and talked myself into love – “Love is large and incredibly patient. Love is gentle and consistently kind to all.”
-I realized I have so much love to give and I am incredibly patient. I am gentle and consistently kind.
E xpress Gratitude
-Spend time giving thanks to God
-I focused on how grateful I was to be their mom
Thankfully, with a little adjustment I was refreshed in God’s presence. With my love refueled, I found the grace I needed to love and affirm my boys while I balanced life’s demands that day.
I’d love to hear how you do everything in love.