There are two ways to experience love. The first is to wait for someone to love you. The second, and more powerful way, is to love others first. This is the remarkable truth: when you step forward and actively share love—by serving, caring, or simply showing kindness—you begin to feel love yourself. The act of giving love creates a sense of connection and fulfillment within, making love a dynamic force that grows as you share it.

Think back to moments when this felt true—times you might have felt alone, yet by reaching out to someone in need, even a stranger in your community, you experienced a lift in your spirit. So, how do we love people? It begins by recognizing that love is a choice—an action we can take at any moment, regardless of circumstance. Consider what Paul writes about love: his very first description is that love is patient. This might not be the starting point we’d expect, but it’s deeply significant. Love is not in a hurry. It is difficult to love others when we rush, feel impatient, or when circumstances aren’t going our way. 

My friend, true love requires us to slow down, to be present, and to offer patience as a foundation for all our connections. As Christians, we are called not only to receive love but to be bold ambassadors of it. Let’s challenge ourselves to seek out opportunities each day to serve, encourage, and uplift those around us.