dreaming of 74 and sunshine

Yep...that's right...I am longing for warmer days and the sun...a warm spring sun, not the cold winter sun. I think part of my longing has to do with the fact that I have been cold almost all day. No particular reason why...oh, except maybe the fact that its WINTER! I remembered a conversation that I had with an acquaintance one time about winter and spring. He said that it is important to have a spring attitude in the middle of winter.

What is a spring attitude, you ask? Well, it is that delightful feeling you get inside when the temperatures begin to warm, and when you can smell spring coming and when the trees start to bloom again, and when you see the first flower of spring. That peaceful, restful, contented and happy feeling that just wells up from somewhere deep inside of you just because it is spring. That, my friends, is a spring attitude. And this person said that that is how we should act in the dead of winter. I appreciate the challenge that it presented to me, and at the same time, part of me just wants to yell....BUT IT'S WINTER!!!!!!! How can I feel the warmth of spring in my heart when my appendages are being frozen by the frigidness of winter???

Anyway...off of that rant before it gets worse...

I was given a look of accountability tonight by a dear friend because I haven't blogged in a couple of days...so here you go...I'm sending a special shout out to her...and check out her videos on Youtube...this one is a particular favorite. It also happens to go with the other subject that I want to talk about...which is L-O-V-E. Yep the L word.

An assignment for one of my classes asked me to write about what I thought love was, how I know when I'm in love, and what are some things people can do to show me that they love me. I started the assignment and tried not to talk about God, and I didn't even get three sentences done. It is impossible for me to talk about love without talking about God.

That theme was really carried over into my day today when I went to see When In Rome with K. I think that is probably the first chick flick I have seen that they actually show that love isn't all about me and what can I get out of this relationship. They actually say in the movie that love is about placing someone else's need above your own... I. was. shocked.

That is never something that you see from Hollywood. Usually the plot is super predictable and semi-cheesy. But this movie had some actual depth to it. It showed people making choices that were self-sacrificing because they understood that that is how you show someone that you love them--you place the other person before yourself. It was...refreshing.

I also liked a point the movie made about how love isn't love unless it is freely given. You can't take someone's love from them. Love is a gift, and we have to allow people the freedom to give their love even if they don't give it to us.

That is how God loves us. It is a gift, and we are free to accept it and return it or we can choose to ignore it and go on with out lives. Either way, the love is freely given and always there.

Well...I'm gonna have some quiet time and hit the hay. Peace out yo!