When I saw this beautiful quote on a Facebook page that I often look at, I had to capture it and save it,knowing full well that I had not always chosen to be love.
Too many times, I’ve seen families torn apart and friendships ruined because of choices that were anything but love. People have chosen to build walls,to hold life-long grudges, to constantly hold on to the past as if it were a treasured heirloom.
I’ve done it,too,although I’ve tried to sweep it under the rug and to make it seem like it was something different,the hard truth is that I’ve let friendships fall apart and I’ve built up walls that held out people that wanted to love me.
Maybe the intention was to protect ourselves from further hurt,but the truth is those choices actually cause more pain.
The anguish of loneliness,
the bitterness of unforgiveness,the stench of regrets wreck havoc on the soul and breaks down the body.
“Choose to be love.”
I let those words soak into me. I sat outside on my patio,pondering those words over and over, and I wrote poetry.
My own words started to mock me,to call me out,to push me from my comfort zone of keeping my words to myself and just a few close friends.
I knew the power of words-I claimed words of courage,of inspiration,of hope,and love. I printed and framed quotes and sent cards with favorite quotes tucked in but I was also cautious-selecting those that I shared my poetry with,giving only glimpses to others,relying heavily on a few kindred spirits that I felt “got me”.
So,I started to do some real soul searching-digging deep into what it means to “choose to be love.”
It hit me clearly,upside the head,the other day, that to chose love means taking action with my words.
It means that I can’t just write beautiful words,I must also LIVE those words. It’s not enough to speak them,to read and frame them, to write them and keep them tucked away in my journals.
If I really consider my words to be a God-given gift then I absolutely must do more
with my words and my life.
“Choose to be love.”
For me, I choose to make a decision to step forward and to forgive,to let go of the past and to start over,to open my arms wide,even while tears ran down my face,and my heart was broken.
I choose to look for the glimpses of light in the darkness,to see the significance in a lightening bug on rainy night, to wait out the storm until the dawn broke through with clarity,and to take chances.
“Choose to be love.”
As I write this,tucked in my covers,leaning against the pillows on my bed, my heart speaks quietly,reassuring me that the timing is good and that it’s time to begin living the words that I claim to be beautiful, to be true,to be inspirational,and to be love.
I will make the choice each day,each moment to respond with love. I will take my words and create things with them, and I will be first-to forgive,to embrace,to nurture,to come around, to give gifts, to open the door,and to tear down the walls.
I will choose to be love and maybe, just maybe,my choices will come back to me a hundred fold, and others will live the words that they receive and they,too,will choose to be love.
Feel with both hands, Jeanna’
Jeanna' Soul 