Intentional Love

A friend shared this blog around Christmas. I love the imagery at the end. Having children myself, I know how excited they get when I am on their level. Since reading it, I've thought a lot about my relationships. -But with a slightly different tune.

The kids are probably the easiest example to use and so I will continue using them. How many times do I avoid getting on their level because I am too tired and I don't want to be beat up, or because there are dishes in the sink that need to be done instead. In the evening when the kids go to bed, I am usually trying to outrun them to my own. When they do go to sleep, I don't always stay up and talk with Colin. Then 7 days of this exact process becomes a week and then another. Then I scratch my head and wonder why I feel "disconnected". Why we all feel disconnected.

Jackson seems to be the easiest to stay connected to. I'm sure that maternal love plays a strong role in that and how, by instinct, I am naturally drawn more to the weakest/youngest child. But I am also still nursing. I make it a point to feed him several times a day. While he's in my lap, I play with his toes and sniff his hair and makeup silly songs about him.

As for everyone else, we're not always disconnected. We each take turns and sometimes those disconnects are outside of the house. Since reading that article, I half question, if the closeness that I feel with Jackson, is really because of how much more effort that I put into it. Even when I am too busy and too tired, I still make time to feed him because it is a necessity for him. Once I am finally sitting there, the other actions follow. Then my "want to and love for" get stronger.

Ist John 3:18 says "Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth." I wonder, simply, what if I treated love as the necessity and acted on it instead of waiting to feel like doing so. Much like that article with God coming down; What if I intentionally went to where I knew that I could find that love and restore or create the connection.

Everyone is already there waiting. I know where I can find them. I just need to go and tap in.