Penny Thoughts: Love is...Appreciation

I think it was in episode 8 of Downton Abbey Season 6 that Tom Branson gave this ponderous thought to Lady Mary Crawley: "Love is giving the other person the power to hurt you." One often knows that love comes with the feelings of excitement, burning passion or adoration, extreme fondness, joy, happiness, and all other good emotions. But, love, if it is to be real and sincere, is to be more than those.

Love is Appreciation. It is appreciating the best in someone when you're experiencing the worst of him (or her.)

If you love your mate and family only when they are lovable, how different are you from other non-spouses and non-family members? No one is perfect and if you're only out to love someone for the good and not for the bad, that is basic and common love.

Love is Appreciation. It is recognizing and enjoying the good qualities of the ones you love.

It's not so much as being blind to their faults as much as being mindful of the good they are and the good they bring into your life. It's never losing sight of the ways they complement and complete your life.

Love is Appreciation. It is understanding your loved ones' capabilities and limitations.

It is being aware of their limits and not over-expecting things from them. It is not demanding perfection or conformity especially when you cannot consistently provide that yourself.
It is discerning their capabilities and passions and setting them free to act and grow where they find joy and fulfillment in. We must understand that what we want may be different from what our loved ones want. And though they may not always share in our hopes and dreams, we can find a way to accommodate each one's pursuits without competition or neglect of one or the other.

---photo credit to dimitrisvetsikas1969

Comments

Container Gardening: Planting KangKong in Pots (Water Spinach)

Kang kong is a well-known leafy vegetable used in many Philippine dishes. It is quite easy to grow they say. There was a time when you can find kangkong patches on most streets in the neighborhood. It is also called water spinach or swamp cabbage. It thrives in wet, moist areas. Many grow it solely in water. It quickly grows under sunny spots but carers should keep the soil moist. Else, it may die. Some tips: Not much intstructions on planting. Just bury the seed and keep the soil moist or muddy. Kangkong grows all year round. Cut maybe an inch or two above the soil for continued regrowth and harvesting. Winter may see your plant dying but often, it regrows by spring. You may fertilize with nitrogen twice a month. You may harvest whole plants at about 1 to 2 months. Kangkong has the tendency to spread. Grow in a container for easy maintenance or harvest whole plants to control your supply. It is best to use potting soil for your containers. Putting regular soil in res...

Why Am I Sleepy During the Day?

What's causing your eyes and brain to shut down during the day? Why can't you keep your eyes open just when you really need to get some work or reading done? If you’ve been asking yourself, “ Why am I sleepy during the day ?” or struggling with that mid-morning or afternoon crash, you’re not alone. Millions of people deal with daytime sleepiness that makes it hard to focus, stay productive, or even enjoy daily activities. The good news? Most causes are simple and fixable once you know what’s behind that drowsy feeling. Too Many Carbs – A Common Cause of Daytime Fatigue If you're not careful, you can over-consume carbohydrates. And when you're taking in more carbohydrates than you can burn, you will get sleepy. Dr. Libby says it's either because your insulin levels are high or you might be gluten intolerant. Eat pasta, bread, potatoes and rice in moderation and space them properly. Studies show that a meal high in refined carbs can spike your blood sugar, follow...

Choose Gratitude!

Gratitude is how you deal with worry and anxiety. A grateful heart helps you get over yourself. As Christians, we are called to practice gratitude every moment, not just when life is going smoothly but especially in the hard moments. Gratitude anchors our hearts to God’s faithfulness and reminds us that we are never alone. Gratitude Helps Us See Beyond Ourselves Somewhere in the world, in this very moment, someone is dying without Jesus. Someone is living it tough. They’re without hope, unaware that God is nearby, ready to save. As followers of Christ, cultivating a heart of gratitude keeps us sensitive to these realities, pushing us to pray, share the Gospel, and love others intentionally. It also moves us to keep appreciating our salvation and security in Christ, now and whatever happens in the future. People are out there, wrestling with the purpose of life. They have never known the presence and loving touch of the One True God. They have yet to experience a r...

In Perspective

Search This Blog