Saturday, February 19, 2011

Love is a Verb


When I was growing up my favorite Christian music group was DC Talk. I grew up with songs like, Free at Last, Jesus Freak, What if I Stumble, and one particular song that has been on my mind this month as we celebrate Valentine’s Day. That song is, ‘Luv is a Verb'. Most of us know that a verb is a word of action. Well, love, is an action.

It seems though, today, that Love tends to be more nounish*. An object that one wishes to possess, or acquire. But it is a selfish love, and easily lost. It is of the kind that desires the benefits of love with out the giving. Love then ceases to be a verb. And when love no longer bears action, it no longer exists.

At Mark’s and my wedding 10 years ago the pastor read a story about a man and his wife. This wife, angry with her husband for his lack of love, went to a lawyer. She wanted a divorce. Not only that but she wanted it to hurt him as bad as He had hurt her. The lawyer leaned forward.
“You really want to hurt him?”
She nodded.
"Then here’s what you should do. Go home. For the next six months treat him like a king. Do everything you can to make him feel loved, and then at the end of the six months, go through with the divorce.”
So she went home, determined to carry it out to the fullest.
Six months later the lawyer called. “Well, are you ready to finalize this divorce?”
“Are you kidding?” she replied. “Our marriage is the best it has ever been!”

Love is a verb. Don't wait for someone else to move. Put your love into action!


The greatest act of love throughout all of history was carried out on a cross over 2000 years ago. Jesus Christ did not stand by and merely offer words, He proved His love, and He proved in eternally. John 4:10 – “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” Did you hear that? He didn’t wait for us to love Him. He chose to love us first. And He acted on it. What an awesome God we serve!

“Back in the day there was a man
Who stepped out of Heaven and he walked the land
He delivered to the people an eternal choice
With a heart full of love and the truth in His voice
Gave up His life so that we may live
How much more love could the Son of God give?
Here is the example that we oughtta be matchin’
Cause love is a word that requires some action.”
- Luv is a Verb, DC Talk

Once again, I feel very blessed to be participating in the Christian Writers Blog Chain. We have had so many great participants this month! You will find their links to your right. :) Please stop in and visit them! Beautiful posts on love! By far the best topic one could write on (in my opinion)! :)

God Bless!


*Sorry. This doesn't appear to be an actual word. But, I kind of needed it. Lol! :)

13 comments:

Debra Gray-Elliott said...

Sarah Grace,
Goosebumps and tears. A beautiful piece. Loved it!

TraciB said...

Wonderful post, Sarah! We all need that reminder once in a while to put shoeleather to our words.

And don't ever apologize for making up a word if you can't find the one you need. Nounish is a great word.

In fact, this whole post reminds me of something I've heard of a few times recently: verbing a noun. It's referring to the tendency in modern conversation to turn a noun into a verb - like saying "Verb your noun", which turns the noun "verb" into a verb.

Your whole post is about verbing the noun "love." So go verb your noun, y'all! ;)

E. G. Lewis said...

Wonderful post. Great quote from John. They didn't call him the Apostle of Love for nothing.
Of course nounish is a word. "Ish" works just "ly." I can make just about any word an adverb by adding ly. That would work for ish as well: The orange tasted sourish, his complexion was sort of pimplish, etc. ;o)
Peace and Blessings

Chris Perdue said...

Great post. I especially like the marriage/divorce example. When you choose to walk in love, then the fruit of love grows in us.

Anonymous said...

Excellent post, Sarah Grace! Love is indeed a verb.

"...when love no longer bears action, it no longer exists," is an interesting thought to ponder, and I think very true. Thank you for nourishing my soul this afternoon!

Tracy Krauss said...

The story about the couple was very wise, indeed. It is difficult to hurt someone when you are actively 'loving' them. (PS - I was also a big DC Talk fan!)

lynnmosher said...

Great post, Sarah! I love the story of the couple. It's so true...love is a verb!

Sarah said...

Thank you, Debra! :)

Traci, funny you mention that. I think I've heard something about that recently too. I guess I didn't think about it much at the time, but that's a great way to look at it! :)

E.G. Lews - John's books have always been my favorite. Though, I know God's wrath is to be feared I have always preferred John's view of the softer side of God. - Also, I am glad to hear "nounish" really is a word! :) And now that I know that I might be using "ish" more often! :)

Thanks, Chris! It's a great story!

Cindee - Thank you so much for the kind words! :)

Yes, I agree Traci! :) (You know, I think I still have all my tapes and CD's from them somewhere. Lol! I have a hard time parting with things like that.:D)

Lynn - Thank you so much for the comment and for stopping by!! :)

Thank you, everyone, for all your great comments!! :)

Victor Travison said...

In science fiction, I make up words all the time, including alien names, with no apologies. In Sunday School this morning, I said something like "The world is in turmoil, and it's getting turmoiler." It got a laugh because I'd just turned a noun into a comparative adjective.

"Nounish" may not be a dictionary word, but that never stopped authors. I think that's what makes us authors special, what makes you entertaining. Throw in a unique construct from time to make people laugh. As long as your meaning is clear, I'm sure no one in the know would criticize it.

On other fronts, what a great article, Sarah! I loved the story about the divorcing couple.

~ VT

Adam Collings said...

Great article Sarah. That song by DC Talk has always stuck with me as a good way defining what love really is. You are totally right when you say that 'when love no longer bears action, it no longer exists".

Sarah said...

Victor - I love it! Turmoiler! :D Sometimes we just need a word that doesn't exist. Right? :) - Thanks for the comment!

Thanks, Adam! That song really stuck with me too. Can you believe it has been 19 years since that song was first released? Where does time go?

Unknown said...

AWESOME! Love IS a verb, and that is something so many people forget. Why do we get lazy with something as important as love? And not necessarily romantic love, either. But the love of a friend, a parent, a sibling, and the love we should have for a fellow sinner who struggles to find the answer for his/her soul.

Thank you for this wonderful post!

Naomi Musch said...

Hey Sarah,
This is a great post. I love that you made the differentiation between verb/noun love. You are SO right! Even after my 30+ years with my high school sweetheart, it does me good to be reminded of that. Thanks!