Feelings are not entirely ours to command. We are attracted towards some against our will, while others we can never experience a spontaneous affection. If we are moved solely by our feelings, that is not love. Real love means that we are still master of our acts, and we use our inclinations and attractions simply as guides in the direction which we choose to take. And the same is true when reason tells us which direction love must take. It is not reason which impels us to love, it is we ourselves who choose to love, taking reason as our guide.
-St. Aeired of Rievaulx
I read this many years ago... and for some reason it has been something that I go back and re-read and analyze.
Love part 1...
It is funny that we can't always control our feelings toward someone or something. There are some people in our life that we have felt that instant connection to... and yet others that we don't.
We can't just go by our feelings/desires... because that could be lust instead of love. When we confuse lust for love... we can easily lose track of our actions... and do something we will regret. But love, that is something we can control because love is not just a feeling... it is something we choose to do. Real love can, and will wait to express that love to whoever God has called them to marry... and wait for that wedding night to experience that love... not lust.
Love Part 2
We can easily love our spouse, our children, our parents, and those we have that instant connections to. There are others that we have to choose to show love to. So, two types of love... the love that is a feeling... and the love that is willing. The love the Bible speaks about is that love of willing... the willed tendency of the heart.
The greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God with all you heart, your mind, soul, and strength... then to love your neighbor as yourself. What if that neighbor is someone who has hurt you. Then that is someone you would have to choose to love, the only way to do that is to seek God's will over our own will. What good is it to just love those that love us... and are good to us? The fact is...Non-believers do that. With God, and in seeking His will for our lives we are called to love everyone... even our enemies. Look art Luke 6L 27-36.
We all have 'reason' too love... Because, Christ set that example for us. He chose to love us first... even though we don't always deserve it.
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