The word “love” has been so commercialized, overly romanticized, exploited and twisted that we almost cringe whenever we use the term or hear it from others (I do).
Yet, love in its truest form and meaning is the very essence of our being…love is an aspect of our soul and thus is the food of the soul…love is active and cannot be held stationary in one place…love needs to flow and the direction of this flow is away from the self and toward others…eventually love flows back from others to ourselves…thus completing the circle of love.
A great and highly spiritual teacher said that there is no greater act of love than to lay down one’s life for a friend. If you can grasp this, then you have truly grasped the meaning of true love. Laying down one’s life for another does not refer only to death such as when a mother chooses to put her life in harm’s way to save the life of her child. Laying down one’s life also refers to making a choice to forsake the life we want to live if by doing so, a vital enhancement in the spiritual, emotional, and physical development and well-being of a friend would be realized.
The following is a section taken from an article by Serge Kahili King that is fitting to share here.
Ralph Waldo Emerson said "The only way to have a friend is to be one." But many people have trouble making friends because they don't know how to be one. So here is a set of guidelines to help you remember:
F = Freedom (give up control)
R = Respect (respect your differences)
I = Interest (take an interest in your friend's interests)
E = Equality (treat your friend like an equal)
N = Nurture (nurture your friend's best qualities)
D = Devotion (be loyal and helpful whenever, wherever, and for as long as you can)
Strive to make each day a "Be A Friend" day.
~~~~~
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