My second son is in a phase where he draws on paper. I initially bought him a book but because the book had worn out, he would tear them all over the place. I was so tired of tidying up that this morning I started packing them in a bin bag to throw them all away. I believe it was the Holy Spirit who cautioned me to exercise patience and understanding.  Feyikemi, ‘calm down’, staple those papers together and explain to him why you have done that. Before I had a chance to explain, my son came to me to show his displeasure  and I explained to him and asked him to please meet me half-way. And he understood.

I have been on a journey where God is revealing many secrets to me to live life to the fullest. No wonder the scripture said that “The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; and He will show them His covenant”. On several occasions,  I have told God I want to enjoy life and He is teaching me and saying to me, Feyikemi this is how you do it. Today being Valentine’s day, I am reflecting on the subject matter of love, from a Christian perspective. I always say to my readers that I am a Christian and I teach from biblical principles which embeds all the tenets of Christianity. I will always say that if you have a belief, it stems from somewhere. You may also have a platform or book that you will always refer to, to establish your belief or beliefs. Therefore, the scriptures is always my reference because the words guide, instruct, reproof, corrects and comforts me.

What is Love? According to the scriptures: Love is patient. Love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protect, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. This is Love – amongst other elements such as humility, forgiveness, gentleness, self-control, Loyalty, understanding, etc. In addition, the Holy Spirit ministered to me that I have these attributes in me because they are in Jesus Christ, and when I activate the needed one in every given situation such as I did this morning with activating patience and understanding in my son’s drawing situation, then all will be well.

I have heard it over and over again that love is not enough most especially in marriage; but I believe we want to say that we as individuals through our actions do not make love enough. If we are to go by the definition that Jesus and all others like Apostle Paul gave to us… Love is enough, but only if everyone of us are appropriating the right ingredient of love in any relationship we find ourselves (couple, family, neighbours, Country to Country, colleagues, brethren, friends etc.). For example there may be a time we need to activate Forgiveness first and allow patience and understanding accompany it, just like God activates His mercy to forgive us and later goes on to favour or blesses us. If we activate forgiveness and leave patience and understanding that are needed to have the desired result, out, then it makes love insufficient.

In Romans 12: 10, Apostle Paul encouraged us to be kindly affectionate  to another with brotherly love; in honouring, preferring one another. There are many scriptures in the bible showing us that love is the answer. In 1 Corinthians, “Though I speak with tongues of men and of angels, and have not LOVE, I become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not LOVE, I am nothing.

Here in John 15: 12 Jesus said “My command is this: “love each other as I have loved you”. Jesus was saying to us, be kind to one another, be patient, do not rejoice when one of you is in tribulation, when they offend you – forgive them, do not allow your anger linger towards any, correct each other in love, give and ensure none of you go hungry, let your words to each other be seasoned with salt, and much more. This was all Jesus did to demonstrate His love towards us.

The very essence of the matter is Love. I want you to remember that God is love and when we say that love is not enough, we are saying that God is not enough. As a Christian, I am of the position that the culmination of my Christian walk is to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ and the entirety of Jesus’s image is Love. I am made in His image and after His likeness. Therefore the culmination of my life is to be restored fully to His image.

The world does not have one person living in it. There are many of us (diverse people from different or the same country), and what we need to live in this world to have peace and ultimately enjoy, is LOVE. Now, when I say Love,  you know I mean as Jesus gave it to us.

It is also important to note that when I say love is enough, and your husband or wife does not display patience or kindness, it does not mean they do not love you. They love you, this just means they need to grow more in love. The same way we grow in age, knowledge and wisdom, is the same way we grow in love if we permit ourselves to grow. Therefore this means, the proportion of patience, kindness, or understanding may not be enough for now but as they grow more in the dept of love and its understanding, they will come to accept that, it is the desire of God that we make it enough because He has made it enough.

I remind you of the ultimate display of love of God. John 3: 16 attest to it that “For God so love the world, that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believes in it should not perish but have everlasting life.”

My prayer is that we embrace the true definition of love and make it enough for us to live with all men, boldly, without agenda or without expecting anything in return. Amen

And also, do not forget to regularly tell your loved ones you love them. As you say it in words, back it up with your actions, not only on Valentine’s day but everyday.

Happy Valentine’s day.

Lots of love from my end…