The other day I was reviewing some of the posts on one of the social media sites. One showed a video of two puppies coming down a slide squeezed so tightly side-by-side they looked as if they were glued together. When they reached the bottom, they rubbed each other’s nose and then took off running across the grass together. Someone commented about how “true love makes you happy.”

In principle, I might agree with that. However, the bump in the road for me is how you interpret “true” love. Love has become such a catch-all phrase for many things. For example, “I love my car” or “I love my house.” “I love my bike.” “I love her hair.” “I love the way…” (fill-in-the-blank). The list is endless. At best, love, by today’s standards, is fueled by our emotions (sensual love), which can create fantasies about a person, place, or object. It is a surface love that eventually will dwindle or become distracted.

Even a BFF (best friend forever) love has its shortcomings when it comes to love. It focuses on shared interests and activities between two people and the mutual benefits of having each other as friends. It is still love based on human affections, but it lacks sustaining power to withstand the multiple pressures that interfere in relationships. Particularly vulnerable are marriage relationships or partner relationships initiated and sustained through sex. It is a shallow love and becomes a soul tie.

You might be thinking, “…and her point is?”

Well, my point only will be made if you do not believe humankind was created from a cosmic explosion, an amoeba, or other animals. If you believe any of these scientific theories, you probably will want to stop reading now.

Genuine true love has a root. It is placed in your heart and is part of you. It is the most powerful force on earth. This root is deeper than those of the famous Redwood trees. It is so powerful that put to the test, will give its life for the person it loves. (John 15:12-13) It is permanent and enduring. It is a Godly expression of infinite grace, and like God, it displays certain qualities and is impossible to capture with a single definition.

This powerful force is demonstrated when you:

• Look beyond the outward appearances of a person (facial and body features, culture, skin color, gender identification) into their heart and soul. (I Samuel 16:7) There is a colossal difference between loving and condemning. Only one can sit in the seat of the prosecuting judge. (Matthew 5:43-46; Luke 6:37)
• See people you come in contact with and yourself, as in the process of being shaped and molded to become what God wants them/you to be rather than who they are now. (John 8:7; Philippians 1:6; Romans 13:9-10)
• Bring value to a person’s life through encouragement. No one can tell you who you are or what your value is, since they did not create you, nor do they know God’s specific purpose for you. Encouragement to another, brings a blessing to you. (I Thessalonians 5:11- Romans 8:28)
• Show genuine interest in the life and well-being of people you connect with, especially those you meet for the first time. (Luke 10:25-37)
• Listen to people instead of talking; listening is an art, practice learning this skill. When you listen to someone, you will be surprised to learn that they want you to know who they really are. (Proverbs 18:13; James 1:19)

The power of love within each of us cannot be duplicated or surpassed. It occupies the inner part of our being. Its influence can conquer anger, guilt, bitterness, hatred, fear, envy, and a host of other dark emotions. But we must take responsibility for releasing this power.

If you are searching for that one-of-a-kind genuine love, be encouraged that your prize will come with your deep-rooted commitment to wait with expectation and anticipation for its arrival. The power within you will always be victorious. It will fulfill the desires of your heart.

I was making coffee one morning when suddenly I was startled by the sound of a lawnmower. From my window, I could see a gardener mowing the front lawn. At the same time, his partner was clipping the hedges. I jumped each time I heard the hedge clipper snap as it sheared a stray or dead branch. I began to imagine how painful it would be if I had stray branches pruned from me in the same manner.

The more I thought about it, the more I began to realize that my entire body was shaped and formed with just the right parts needed for me to function in this 3-dimensional world. But like the hedge, I still need to be clipped. For example, a piece of pottery may start as hard red clay, totally useless. For it to serve any purpose, it must be shaped, dried, and placed under some type of heat.

We know from ancient history that clay was mixed with water and straw and shaped by hand. With modern-day technology, most pottery is customized by a machine on wheels rotated by a potter. After the clay is mixed with water to just the right consistency, the potter sculpts it to any form he desires. As the pottery is shaped, the useless and rough edges are cut off and fall to the ground. Those unusable bits resemble sharp stones and are known as “potsherds.”
 
The final part of the creation is the firing of the clay to give it strength and durability. Like many things subjected to prolonged and intense heat, some vessels come out imperfect, cracked, or even broken. Nevertheless, the potter recognizes their value; nothing is wasted. The potter chooses the appropriate type of clay that will guarantee the vessel will be suitable for its intended purpose. These completed containers have countless uses, each one designed for a unique function.

As humans, we are sometimes our own worst enemies. We criticize ourselves, shame ourselves, compare ourselves to others, and sometimes we wish we could be someone else. We contrast our abilities with others and may even view our parents as determining our destiny. We talk about ourselves as if we had something to do with how God designed us. This behavior is self-defeating. Here are a few reasons why these negative thoughts and actions are like eating rotten fruit:

• They undermine your inward character and conceal the genuine you. “You are the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:14)
• They express ungratefulness to God: differences in our outward appearance or circumstances frame and highlight God’s unique message through us; we are each one-of-a-kind. (Isaiah 29:16; Isaiah 64:8); (Proverbs 31:10-39)
• They eliminate the image in whom we were created (Genesis 1:27); it rejects the Divine Potter’s work. (Psalm 139:14; Isaiah 45:9)
• They provoke the lie in your soul that, “God loves others more than He loves me.” (I John 4:12; 1 John 4:19)
• They promote thoughts of inferiority. Why would you compare yourself to others when they are the same as you? (2 Corinthians 10:12)

Sometimes the preparation, shaping, and applying heat to human clay by the Sovereign Potter is painful. The clay may feel broken and cracked, but remember, whether or not anyone else can see it, the Divine Potter is the only one who determines the value.

The Great Potter forms each child in the mother’s womb. He shapes this tiny vessel with all of the attributes he or she will need to continue into life’s journey. After birth, the Potter’s hands-on design of the human vessel is unceasing. The value of this vessel becomes priceless.