Love is the commitment to Self and Others to SHOW UP! To support and nurture through Spiritual and Self Growth!
We are programmed to think that Love is supposed to be soft and easy, it’s all the hugs, kisses and the sweet love letters we see in fairytale love stories. I know, I'm a movie buff and a sucker for a romantic film. I like to say I'm a "hopeless romantic" which is probably why I have ended up in countless LOVELESS relationships. I wasn't aware of Love being hard and painful; long suffering and endurance! I didn't know it took so much WORK, work in self and the investment in others.
I recently watched two AMAZING films that highlight some true transparency around LOVE and more specifically BLACK LOVE…Malcom & Marie and Queen & Slim
MY KEY TAKEAWAYS FROM MALCOME & MARIE
MY FAVORITE SCENCE FROM QUEEN & SLIM
I had to commit to doing the WORK required to heal myself from the triggers developed in the lack I felt as a child that started to show up in my adult relationships. I was reacting instead of doing the work to identify why and responding differently. I guess that’s why I can appreciate Queen & Slims bar scene so much. I understand what it means to "know what you want" . To want someone to hold your hand while You heal YOURSELF and kiss the bruises the pain leaves behind.
Most people don’t want to acknowledge that LOVE is HARD WORK, it’s NOT EASY! The easy part is giving up on Love and telling yourself you don’t need or deserve it. The HARD part is being intentional in how you Love.
For me a piece of loving myself is identifying my pain and understanding the WHY, to forgive myself and others while learning to appreciate it all. Love isn’t perfect and most of us are just operating the best way we know how. But how are we ever going to give and receive love if we don’t understand what it means to endure the journey of finding TRUE LOVE. Agape Love (Gods love for humanity and the love of humanity for God; selfless Love for others)!
Love will endure all things, the suffering and the light of Love. Love preserves, for I know and feel the Love God shows and gives me everyday which allows me to pour Love into myself and frees me to give and receive love from others. God is Love.
Happy Love Day ~ Ashley R. Wood
"The person who doesn't love does not know God, because God is Love." 1 John 4:8 CEB
Very well said and thought out 👍🏾🙏🏾🙌🏾🥰
Always willing to be transparent ❤️