The Infinite Nature of Love

"Sometimes we get confused and think that we won't have enough love to go around."

• Ken Jones
  

The Infinite Nature of Love

I have three daughters so when someone asks me if I have girls or boys my first reply is always, "I'm a specialist, I only have daughters. When the bible says, beautify the earth, I can confidently say I have obeyed that commandment completely." I've often thought about how these daughters have changed my life.

First, they've taught me the true nature of love. There's no doubt we've done things for them that we wouldn't have done for any other people. I think of many late nights holding them while they were ill; trying to give as much comfort as we could. I also reflect on all the time we've spent taking them to their activities such as gymnastics, horse-back riding, and music lessons. They're the largest investment we've made in life by far.

When I say investment, perhaps it gives you the wrong impression. I don't just mean in money or financial terms. I mean time, effort and talents spent on nurturing them, growing with them and learning from them.

Second, I've learned that investing in life, in living people, is by far the most rewarding and most difficult thing I've ever done. One of my favorite quotes has to do with "(not) adorning yourself with that which has no life." My kids have taught me that they're of much greater value than any material thing. And, I'm quite sure I wouldn't have learned that lesson had I not had any children. When I say that, I'm speaking of myself only!

I know of others who learn the same important lesson by a different path. One of my dearest friends has never married and has never had children of her own, but she has touched the lives of thousands of kids through her teaching. When all is said and done, she's probably spent more time teaching and learning from children than I ever will. I've known Monica for more than twenty-five years and when I look into her Scandinavian blue eyes there's no doubt in my mind that she's invested her whole life in the lives of countless children who have left her classroom to become wonderful people. Her work has created a deeper and richer experience for those she has taught as well as for herself.

There are times when I'm sure she's felt as if her energy was spent. I'm sure there have been many days when she felt as if she just couldn't give out any more love; there just wasn't enough to go around. I'm sure about that because I've felt that way on many occasions and I have just three children. Until now, I couldn't imagine having enough love to give to thirty or thirty-five different children each and every year. But, she's done it and has had love to spare!

I've been thinking about this a lot lately because one of my daughters just got engaged to be married. And, you know, I've said for years, "I only know about daughters, I don't have a clue when it comes to boys." Well, now I have my chance to learn something new. I've also realized that my family isn't getting smaller, it's getting larger. I'm beginning to see that perhaps I've been unknowingly limiting the amount of love I have to give due to my focus on the number three.

And isn't that fitting? The third lesson I'm learning is that allowing more people into my life doesn't take love away from the people I already love. It simply allows me to reach down into the well of my heart and pull more love out. It gives me the chance to give more and at the same time to receive and learn more. That's the true nature of love.

Love has the power to expand infinitely if each one of us makes the decision to allow it to do its work. If you're going through changes in your life and they have you feeling challenged and a little displaced, find a way to hand out more love. If you'll do that you'll find that you'll soon be receiving much more than you've given. It will return to you many times and in many ways.

I believe in this so much now that I've added a new aspect to my personal vision. I've decided to focus more of my time and talents to help young women who need to be mentored by a father. I'm excited about what I can give and the lessons that will surely be coming my way.

More love will be coming your way if you want it to. You have infinite love to give. You have infinite value to give. You can create a better and happier life for others as well as for yourself if you'll simply embrace the infinite nature of love.