Love All Around You

Love All Around You

People come and go. We move away, move-in next door, we die and we live. Each morning we awake to a brand new day where we are free to reinvent our lives in whatever fashion we choose. We are unique creations of a living God, and whether we realize it or not, as part of that creation, we contribute to each others experiences and growth through our actions and responses. Most of the time, and unbeknownst to us, we offer gifts in lifelong lessons that when learned and put into practice enhance our beings.

I knew a man who taught me something about that thing we call love. That man was my brother. Every time he left a crowd, a party or a meeting, he would sign off with a short wave and say, Love all around you! Love all around you seemed a simple good-bye, but since his passing, I have made his words some of my contemplations. As it has turns-out, “Love all around you,” has become a most precious gift to me; a phrase my brother made common during his physical presence, and one that I now embrace in mine.

Think about it­­ … Love is energy. All encompasses everything and everyone. Around is everywhere. You are an amazing element of It. Love all around you.

Love is the essence of all that is good. Every moment we feel happiness, comfort; every time we pray, give, laugh; or smile, exercise, recognize beauty, breathe deep, stand in the wind, cook, read something scrumptious; every time we hear a pleasing song, an exquisite voice; or tie our shoes, cuddle with a cat, a dog, watch ocean waves crash against the sand, eat chocolate; or take the advice of a parent; or learn from a child, love is cultivated. Love is expressed. Love is all around us.

Love is the strength behind forgiveness and therefore the most powerful of all emotions. (Without love, is it possible to forgive?) When we forgive ourselves, anyone, our sense of honor increases, our integrity grows; we become better people––more loving people. Forgiveness begets love for self and love for those we need to forgive. When we love, we humanize that person or group who offended us. With love, anger can only cease to exist.

Love means having faith. Faith is the ability to practice the art of having patience; of being persistent. When we are patient, our practice in faith increases. We discover, understand and accept truth. We are able to wait for the inevitable to manifest, to be; and we know that whatever it will bring, it will be good.

Love is Universal. 

Love is God. 

Love is all around you.