"All you need is Love...."

Ever heard that Beattles song....

"All you need is Love Love Love
Love is all you need"

As I sat across the table from my cousin and VERY dear friend
I just began to talk about alot of things....
Things that have been bothering me and things that I have been wrestling with and processing for the last couple of months.

I absolutely love people! Doesn't matter their age, gender, personality type....
I love to talk to other people and find out about them... what makes them tick.
What is important to them? What do they enjoy? What do they value?
Anything.... I love getting to know new people.
I can talk to just about anyone... seriously. And, for the most part, I am genuinely interested in what they have to say, especially if it is about them as people.

Jen reminded me that I have a very big heart.... a heart that loves to love others..... a heart that loves to help people and a heart that loves to make other people happy. Sometimes the intentions behind that are questioned but truly, that is what I like to do. I absolutely love to find out what makes someone happy and do it.... over and over again. If I am aware of a need or something that someone wants done, I will be the first to volunteer to help. Doesn't matter what it is....

I have been known to create Power Point Presentations
Coordinate Wedding Ceremonies/Receptions
Paint Children Musical Backdrops
Type Greek Commentaries
Open up my home for a weekend/week/month to people who need a place to stay....
Learn to play the piano
Help people Move

Honestly, doesn't matter. I enjoy doing things that help people. I enjoy making a difference in their life.

I don't really expect much in return. I love visiting and spending time with people.... I think that is what I enjoy the most really. Just spend time with me. Give me you and that is the best way to show me that you love and care about me.

What I am learning is that character trait puts me in a very vulnerable spot consistently! As you can imagine, it is easy to get overextended and feel used and tired. It is easy to have your feelings hurt when someone doesn't respond to your generosity with thankfulness.

A friend once explained it like this.....
a relationship exists between two people.
On their best day, each person brings their own sets of strengths/weaknesses to the relationship. My strength....the ability to love someone.
My strength might be different then someone else's strength.

Consider for a second, the following analogy.
Imagine that you can measure love.
Lets say that on my best day I am capable of loving someone 150 units.
Now lets say that same person on their best day is capable of loving me 50 units.
I understand that my best and their best are on two different levels.
I understand that even on their "A Game" their best will not look like mine.
And that goes for the reverse as well.....

So what does this mean? How does this affect my life?
I should never expect someone to give me what I give them. I should not expect someone whose best is 50 units to give me 150 units. That is not realistic.... it isn't fair.
If someone can never fufill my expectations, then what is the point of them trying at all?
That doesn't mean that I shouldn't encourage them to grow. That does't mean that I can't try to challenge them to do better and be more.
I think the idea of encouragement and discipline is VERY biblical....

All I can ask is that they try to be their best
All I can expect is an effort that parallels my effort
And when they do try and when they are striving to make sure that I am saying "THANKS" in whatever form that looks like