Kids Define Love

We live in a day where many words such as loyalty, gratitude, love, friendship, etc. are being redefined. In reality, what has happened is people really are mistaken on what words mean. Love is a very important word, and understanding this crucial word and what it truly means is important before you can make the statement "I love you," or use the word in any other context for that matter. I recently read the following on how kids define love, and thought it was very interesting. You’ll see my commentary on the quotes in parentheses as well. Enjoy.

 

A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds, "What does love mean?" The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined. See what you think:

 

"When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't bend over and paint her toenails anymore.

So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That's love."

- Rebecca - age 8

 

"When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different.

You just know that your name is safe in their mouth."

- Billy - age 4

 

"Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other."

- Karl - age 5

(I know some people that think that Karl) =D

 

"Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs."

- Chrissy - age 6

(That IS love!)

 

"Love is what makes you smile when you're tired."

- Terri - age 4

 

"Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK."

- Danny - age 7

(My kind of love, Danny!)

 

"Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more.
My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss"

- Emily - age 8

 

"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen."

- Bobby - age 7

(Wow!)

 

"If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate."

- Nikka - age 6

(we need a few million more Nikkas on this planet)

 

"Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday."

- Noelle - age 7

 

"Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well."

- Tommy - age 6

 

"During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling.

He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore."

- Cindy - age 8

 

"My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night."

- Clare - age 6

(She knows better than most teens who loves her the most!)

 

"Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken."

- Elaine-age 5

 

"Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day."

- Mary Ann - age 4

 

"I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones."

- Lauren - age 4

 

"When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you." 

- Karen - age 7

(What an image)

 

"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross."

- Mark - age 6

(I bet mommy knows you’re telling people that) =D

 

"You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget."

- Jessica - age 8

(Very true!)

 

Till next time,

Clay

Casual Christianity

Lately, I have become quite a blog-reader. In fact, I have become a pretty regular reader on certain blogs that update relatively frequently (unlike mine). I was reading a blog yesterday when a thought hit me that I feel is very important in the Laodicean church age in which we live. The article pointed out that churches today value style over substance. Church advertisements on the radio, etc. point out that you can "come as you are," and "wear your jeans," and enjoy the "live band," and "fun activities for the kids." The various features of a particular church aren't necessarily wrong, but we are sending the wrong message. In our 30 seconds or 60 seconds of radio time or interaction with the grocer or paying for gas, we should focus on the substance of our faith, not the style of our Christianity.

You and I, they say, should make our moments count by communicating the most important message. While this is generally accepted in Christianity as true, I am of the opinion that this philosophy of "substance over style" can miss the point. When the substance of our faith does not effect the style of our Christianity, what does it effect? Don't misunderstand. I agree with the principle that we should focus on Christ and the eternal destination of the lost soul over a particular singing group, etc., but to say that style does not matter is naive. Let me explain. I am not saying that we should focus on style over substance. But doesn't the style betray the substance? For instance, if I should hear a radio ad promoting a live band, youth activities, and a dynamic atmosphere, I am hearing about their substance! The correct substance portrays the correct message.

During Speech class at the College yesterday, I was hearing an Informative Speech on a particular church in our town. This young lady (yes, true ladies are rare down at the college) described her church as fun, exciting, and a host of other adjectives I can not recall. This church is called Northstar Church, and is your typical non-denominational church that is really no more than a continual Christian rock concert. During Q & A after the speech, I asked her what about her church stood out as the reason she loves it. Her answer? "The dynamic environment." I responded with, "Oh, I thought you were going to say it drew you closer to the Lord, or something like that."

I don't know for sure, but maybe the reason they choose style over substance is because style is their substance. If that's all a church has to offer this dying world, and for most churches it is, then let them advertise it, because the last thing we want them advertising is a perverted gospel that gives false assurance. Rather, those of us who do have true substance should focus on spreading the truth of our faith, and living that substantial faith so that the style of our Christianity is immediately associated with the substance that we speak of.

And the lesson to learn is this: our style betrays our substance. Do you have real substance to your faith? If so, does it show in your style? Does our style resemble our substance? Let us live the substance our faith commands.

Quote of the Week

"A nation or civilization that continues to produce soft-minded men purchases its own spiritual death on the installment plan."

- Martin Luther King Jr.