love big.

Love big. I guess never really understood what it meant. To love someone is to open your heart, your life to someone else. Most people expect the same thing in return and are hurt when it doesn't happen. Which is why we are to "love big, ask for little in return". It may sound a little cynical, but I can come across that way sometimes.

Some people stop loving when they don't get anything back, but should we? Is it fair to throw in the towel, so to speak, and stop loving everyone altogether? No.

I've been struggling with this idea, because it's so draining to love and love and give and give, but we're not called to anything less. What? Did she say "we're"? Yes, I did. If we love the Lord Jesus with our hearts and lives, then we are called to love unconditionally. To love when it hurts.
John 3:16 (just because it's used alllllll the time, doesn't make of less value!) says that God so loved the world. The WORLD. Do we forget where we live? In a world that regularly pushes God out and blames every problem on Him, in a world that spits and curses at His very name. In a world that looks at all the beauty around them and gives the credit to floating molecules that magically collided to create the amazing sunsets I love. God still loves... He willingly gave of Himself to this world that hates Him.

Are we to stop loving because we don't get love in return? Who knows how our love can change the day for one person, can put a smile on a bitter face or make one person know they are worth the effort. In my opinion, that's a price I'm willing to pay. It doesn't come easy and sometimes, it's hard to tell if it's even worth it. But then, someone smiles back at you, someone returns your love and suddenly, you have the desire to love again.