What Does "LOVE" Mean?

A group of children was asked, “What does ‘love’ mean?” Here are some of their answers:

• Rebekah, 8, said, “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.”
• Billy, 4, said, “When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.”
• Bobby, 7, says, “Love is what's in the room at Christmas, if you stop opening presents and listen.”
• Nikka, 6, says, “If you want to learn to love better, you should start with someone you hate.”
• Tommy, 6, says, “Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.”
• Cindy, 8, says, “During my piano recital, I was on a stage, and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me, and I saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. And I wasn't scared anymore.”
• Jessica, 8, says, “You really shouldn't say ‘I love you’ unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot.”

I got to thinking about asking God that same question, “What does ‘love’ mean?” and I was reminded of John 3:16—“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” What a perfect verse to sum up the message of Christmas!

In all our celebrations this month, let’s not forget that the birth of Christ—the Incarnation, which is God clothing Himself in the garments of humanity—answers that question, “What does ‘love’ mean?”

There’s a poem that’s been set to music and sung by many…it’s called “Love Came Down at Christmas.” I couldn’t agree more!