MAKING LOVE

When I was a kid (I’m totally dating myself with this one) I absolutely LOVED sitting in front of the TV with a bowl of cereal on Saturday mornings, watching a show called School House Rock!  This wasn’t just a show it was more like an educational, cultural experience set to music it was a movement!!

Okay I’m back. As you can probably read in these words I really dug this show. My favorite episode was one from the Grammer Rock series entitled Verb:”That’s What’s  Happenin!”. This one is so funky, before you know it you’re singing and dancing along with it and forget that you’re actually being taught an English lesson. What you learn is; almost anything can be made a verb by simply adding ing; listen+ing=listening, talk+ing=talking, communicate+ing=communicating.

Love+ing=loving. Yes love is a verb! Pastor Andy Stanley teaches a powerful series on “making love….a verb”. He points out the fact that love as a noun is simply not enough to sustain relationships over time. We should be intentional about loving one another every day. Pastor Stanley is specifically referring to the marriage relationship in his teaching but my lesson goes a bit further. I believe God wants us to love as a verb in all of our relationships. My way of putting love into action daily for my children is huddling up with them in front of their classrooms each morning and pray+ing with them, thanking God for giving them sound minds and bodies to meet the days challenges and adventures with enthusiasm and courage. Some days we even pray together for their teachers and classmates (depending on their attention span, they’re 5 & 6 so it gets interesting). My way of putting love into action for my husband is concede+ing a point for the sake of the “bigger picture” (I’m 40ish so this doesn’t happen often:o). My way of making love…”work” for my mom and grandmother is going to pick up groceries, medications or running other errands for them, not because I “have” to but because I know it blesses them when I do this.  I could go on and on but you get the point right?

Love as a noun is what brings people together, it’s the introduction. Love as a verb is what keeps people together, it’s the relationship.

With that I challenge you to think of ways you can MAKE LOVE…a verb today!

click link below for some motivation!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=US8mGU1MzYw

Peanut Butter and Honey

Peanut Butter and Honey

 sounds sticky huh? Well trust me it is. I know this because this is one of my two son’s favorite snacks! apply this mixture to anything and they’ll eat it!

Soooo, How ’bout we apply it to our relationships. I know again it sounds sticky and even a little kinky depending on where you’re at in your own head right now. Here’s where I’m at, some of the things we enjoy the most can be quite messy. Relationships are that way. If your anything like me, the relationships you have built in your life are the things you enjoy most but boy does that marriage, parenting or friendship get messy at times, in fact if we’re honest we wish we could just “wash our hands” of the whole thing some days! But on the flip side they can also be the most satisfying experiences of our lives.

I think about the times I allow the boys to “make their own” snack I set the peanut butter, jar of honey, bread or sometimes crackers, and little plastic (monkey shaped) knives on the table and watch them go to town. As they giggle and compare who’s is the best (and by this they mean gooiest) I stand by with wet towel and swifer in hand. After the last glob of peanut butter has been smeared and honey has been dripped, the look of satisfaction on their faces is priceless. It makes me smile to see their peanutbuttery, honey sweet smiles.

Recipe:

PB & H sandwich

Ingredients:

• 2 slices bread (we use whole grain bread, but feel free to substitute what you like)
• Generous heaps of peanut butter
• Healthy drizzle of honey

Preparation: spread peanut butter on one side of both pieces of bread, make sure to cover the bread (that’s the way the boys like it). Then take honey and drizzle on both sides of bread cover to taste.(David likes it on both sides, while Jacob only likes honey on one side so clearly it’s up to you!) Smash both pieces of bread together so hard you leave your hand print. Enjoy!

This recipe courtesy of David and Jacob

Is there a point? other than this mom sharing a story and snack recipe? I’m glad you asked. YES. The point is this; relationships require essential ingredients to make them satisfying. Like the peanut butter and honey that makes a very satisfying, literally “stick to the tummy”, snack. There are certain “stick to your heart” ingredients in relationships.

Recipe

Healthy Relationship

Ingredients:

• Honesty-This ingredient is essential and absolutely can not be substituted with half-truths, or holding back a portion. Must add total honesty to recipe.
• forgiveness-You may need liberal portions of this depending on who you are preparing recipe for i.e. spouse, child, friend, boss etc.
• Communication-Without this ingredient you will not be able to prepare this recipe. If you are all out of communication in your home you should “pick some up” or consider another recipe.
• Trust-After you have added all of the above ingredients, resist temptation to add in other stuff like mind reading and accusations. It will compromise the outcome of recipe.
• Agreement-Make sure all ingredients are compatible and working together. If you want to “serve up” something sweet make sure you are adding in sweet things. Check expiration dates on your ingredients don’t add in hurt and anger from years ago this will compromise the outcome of recipe.
• Be Patient-“a watched pot never boils”, but a hovered over person does. You may have to prepare this recipe several times before it comes out perfect and that’s okay. The good news is once you have all these ingredients in your home you have “food for life”.

Preparation: Add all of the above ingredients into every relationship you value. Mix thoroughly making sure all of your loved ones are covered with mixture. Invite them to God’s table where generous amounts of prayer should be added. Serve and Enjoy! 

Suggested serving tips:

For most satisfying results sprinkle an ample helpings of fun, friendship, and passion on the top of each serving.

This recipe courtesy of Maisha F. Under the guidance of God The Father