It's that time of the year when the whole city is painted red and love most spoken of on the streets, social media platforms, websites, TV and radio stations as Valentine's day draws closer.
Now, despite how much love is spoken of on such a day, there are people who truly do not understand what love really is. Such people speak of love without an in-depth knowledge of what it really means.
I have come to realize up close and from a distance how such people misuse the word love especially in this day and age we live in.
These people only claim to love certain people for what they would gain from the other person. They only want to receive and not give.
For them, every relationship they get into is a one-way street relationship instead of a two-way street relationship.
In the name of love, they take advantage of a person's kindness, generosity, personality, finances and otherwise.
Both genders are guilty of this and it happens in all kinds of relationships whether in a family relationship, between acquaintances, between an employer and employee, between co-workers, romantic relationships or as friends.
Every relationship of any kind ought to be a two-way street and not a one-way street affair. A relationship of give and take.
A relationship where there is mutual benefit and impact. But unfortunately, we find people trying to take advantage of the other person(s).
If you are in a relationship where nothing is added to you or your life but rather there is always withdrawals from the deposits inside and outside of you by the other person, then you ought not to be in that relationship.
Trust me, if you are in this kind of relationship - a one-way street relationship- it will get you drained to a point where you are worn out and would want out.
But where the relationship is a two-way street, you both will make meaningful impact in each other's life, there will always be a refreshing and the relationship enjoyable not endurable.
You can't say you love someone and not able to give. While you can give without actually loving a person, you can't truly love and not give.
Giving can be done grudgingly, out of compulsion, to please a person or groups of persons and can be done just to appear good in the eyes of others when it never came from the heart.
But when you truly love, giving comes from the heart. It is done cheerfully, joyfully and without expectations.
When you love genuinely from the heart, giving becomes a part of you in that relationship because of the love you have for that person.
You would want to give your time, money, support, words of encouragement, forgiveness, understanding and even yourself.
God who is love Himself (1 John 4:8) demonstrated this act of love towards us when He gave His only begotten son to die for mankind.
It is said in John 3:16 that "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
"This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." 1 John 4:9-10.
God first loved us and then parcticalised his love for us by giving. So, how then can you love and not give if you are of God?
You can't claim to know God and not love like He does. 1 John 4:8 says "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."
Love is a verb. It is an action word that goes beyond words. It is practical (action). You just have to be practical in your love towards the other person and not just say "I love you" without actions to back up your words.
WHY IS GIVING VERY IMPORTANT IN ANY RELATIONSHIP?
On such a day as this, everyone in a relationship, expects to receive gifts of any kind, be with their significant other, friends or family members.
Whatever we do at this point in time on a day as this just to put a smile on their faces and make them happy it's an act of giving.
Giving is like a life wire of any relationship. It's as important as the air we breathe in concerning any relationship we are into. When giving is one sided, the one who does the giving would soon get worn out and would want out.
Through giving, we express how we truly feel about a person. It is a proof of our love towards one another. When you truly love, you hold nothing back.
Giving does not just bring joy to the receiver, but also to the giver and even much more to the giver. Giving in general makes us feel good, how much more to the ones we truly love.
Giving of any kind is also a way of showing appreciation towards the one you love. It indicates how appreciative you are of the fact that they in your life and you in theirs.
Your giving to your significant other or any other person indicates you are thinking of them and concerned about their needs.
Understanding your partner's love language is also another aspect of giving. While some people's love language actually is in receiving gifts, others could be acts of service, physical touch, words of affirmation and quality time.
Understanding your partner's love language and reciprocate in like manner. Expressing this love language towards them is an act of giving.
As stated earlier giving is not just about giving gifts or money but could be in other forms such as time, support morally or emotionally, words of encouragement and so on.
Imagine a world where we truly love and practice this love from the bottom of our hearts, I bet we would have a beautiful world with less conflict, hate, strife, bitterness, envy, broken relationships or broken homes.
In order to get what you want in any relationship, give first and give that which you expect to receive.
Quote for the day - "No relationship can survive without giving of any kind."
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