What a power is love! It is the most wonderful, the greatest of all living powers. Love gives life to the lifeless. Love lights a flame in the heart that is cold. Love brings hope to the hopeless and gladdens the hearts of the sorrowful.
In the world of existence there is indeed no greater power than
the power of love. When the heart of man is
aglow with the flame of love, he is ready to sacrifice all—even his life. In
the Gospel it is said God is love.
(‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Paris Talks, pp. 179-181)
Know thou of a
certainty that Love is the secret of God's holy Dispensation, the manifestation
of the All-Merciful, the fountain of spiritual outpourings. Love is heaven's
kindly light, the Holy Spirit's eternal breath that vivifieth the human soul.
Love is the cause of God's revelation unto man, the vital bond inherent, in
accordance with the divine creation, in the realities of things. Love is the
one means that ensureth true felicity both in this world and the next. Love is
the light that guideth in darkness, the living link that uniteth God with man,
that assureth the progress of every illumined soul. Love is the most great law
that ruleth this mighty and heavenly cycle, the unique power that bindeth
together the diverse elements of this material world, the supreme magnetic
force that directeth the movements of the spheres in the celestial realms. Love
revealeth with unfailing and limitless power the mysteries latent in the
universe. Love is the spirit of life unto the adorned body of mankind, the
establisher of true civilization in this mortal world, and the shedder of
imperishable glory upon every high-aiming race and nation. (‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Selections from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 27)
The love of God has brought us together,
and this is the best of means and motive. Every other bond of friendship is limited in effectiveness, but fellowship based
upon the love of God is unlimited, everlasting, divine and radiant. (‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Promulgation
of Universal Peace, p. 442)
It is He Who created you from a single person, and made his mate of like nature, in order that
he might dwell with her in
love. (The Qur’án, 7:189)
In short, whatsoever thing is arranged in harmony and with
love and purity of motive, its result is light, and should the least trace of estrangement prevail the result shall be darkness upon
darkness…. (‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Selections
from the Writings of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, p. 88)
…The love which exists between the hearts of believers is
prompted by the ideal of the unity of spirits. This love is attained through the knowledge of God, so that men see the Divine Love
reflected in the heart. Each sees in
the other the Beauty of God reflected in the soul, and finding this point of
similarity, they are attracted
to one another in love. This love will make all men the waves of one sea, this love will make them all the stars of one heaven and the
fruits of one tree. This love will bring the realization of true accord, the foundation of real unity. But the love which sometimes exists between friends is not
(true) love, because it
is subject to transmutation; this
is merely fascination. As the breeze blows, the slender trees yield. If the
wind is in the East the tree
leans to the West, and if the wind turns to the West the tree leans to the
East. This kind of love is originated by the accidental conditions of
life. This is not love, it is merely acquaintanceship; it is subject to change. Today you will see two souls apparently in close friendship;
tomorrow all this may be changed. Yesterday they were ready to die for one another, today they shun one another’s
society! This is not love; it is the
yielding of the hearts to the accidents of life. When that which has caused
this “love” to exist passes, the
love passes also; this is not in reality love. (‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Paris Talks, pp.
179-181)
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not
boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. …Love never
fails…(The Bible: 1 Corinthians 13:4, 5, 8)
MY REFLECTION:
Love is...
Turning towards God and seeking to do that which is right
Chanting prayers in times of joy and in times of pain
Giving hugs and kisses with praise and with compassion
Striving to better one's self, family, and community
Lending a hand selflessly to aid others
Smiling at strangers that cross your path
Taking a moment to reflect and appreciate
Looking for the positives in each and in all
Seeking the blessings in times of tests
Listening with understanding and empathy
Expressing with tact and sincerity
Sharing a meal or a heart-warming treat
Encouraging loved ones with wisdom to act or to yield
Thinking of others before oneself
Prioritizing love and unity before all else.
MY REFLECTION:
Love is...
Turning towards God and seeking to do that which is right
Chanting prayers in times of joy and in times of pain
Giving hugs and kisses with praise and with compassion
Striving to better one's self, family, and community
Lending a hand selflessly to aid others
Smiling at strangers that cross your path
Taking a moment to reflect and appreciate
Looking for the positives in each and in all
Seeking the blessings in times of tests
Listening with understanding and empathy
Expressing with tact and sincerity
Sharing a meal or a heart-warming treat
Encouraging loved ones with wisdom to act or to yield
Thinking of others before oneself
Prioritizing love and unity before all else.
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