Love Chooses to Overlook

Love says, “Before you recount all the flaws of others, make sure you look in the mirror first and count all yours.”

February’s Awakening, Day 15

Love is not blind, it sees more not less;

But because it sees more it chooses to see less.

 —Author Unknown

Whoever loves, allows themselves willingly to be corrected, without seeking excuses, in order to be freer in love.

 —Hadewijch of Brabant

Love is not love

Which alters when it alteration finds.

 —William Shakespeare, “Sonnets”

 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

1 Peter 4:8 NIV

            Real love sees all the flaws of the one loved in all aspects of their true nature, but chooses not to emphasize or bring attention to them but to promote and acknowledge all that is positive. Real love is not vindictive, condescending, or critical, but is protective, encouraging, and uplifting. Love should always be honest but with compassion, respectful but helpful, instructive but in positive ways. Love doesn’t promote self at the expense of another, nor does it ever reveal personal intimacies for public consumption. Love is ever forgiving and most importantly, forgetful of the wrongs received and the negatives displayed, and love refuses to continually bring to mind or voice those same issues. Real love never uses itself as leverage to gain something for self. Love is always understanding and never condemning. Love has enormous power to influence when used appropriately and has the unique ability to bring about the positive change that nothing else could do.

            So I ask you, does this love describe your love? If you want to be loved like that then you must first love like that. Rejoice in your ability to love and do not be sorrowful in what you receive. Love as if you’ve never been hurt and love as if your next breath depended upon it.