Judging by the uptick in commercials for jewelers, florists, and candy manufacturers, Valentine’s Day is nigh. As such, it seems natural to reflect upon the notion of love. As a word, “love” covers a wide range of emotions and relationships. We English speakers are somewhat impoverished when it comes to describing the different kinds of love, for we have just one word we use for all of them.
Other cultures do a better job of differentiating the types. For instance, Greek (the language of the New Testament), has several different words for love: agape (unconditional, sacrificial love), philia (brotherly love, friendship), storge (familial love), and eros (romantic love) – the one most connected with Valentine’s Day. Agape, however, is considered the highest form of love, representing God’s love for humanity. Agape is love given whether or not it is returned.
At Saint Francis Ministries, we encounter love all the time … the love of families and the love of children for their parents and siblings. That’s why we work so hard to keep families together. As employees, we also have love for those we serve. We do our best to advocate for them and help them succeed. Indeed, our ministry is founded upon the four pillars of “Therapy in Christ,” developed by our founder, Fr. Bob Mize Jr., nearly 80 years ago:
- Daily prayer
- Accepting responsibility for one’s actions
- Unconditional love
- Forgiveness
That “unconditional love” pillar is a big one. It means we all deserve to love and be loved simply because we’re human. It means we can do nothing to earn love and that regardless of our past mistakes and struggles, our human dignity is enough to warrant love without conditions. Fr. Bob fervently believed unconditional love and forgiveness (even when unsought) would enable boys to regain their self-worth and begin to order their lives accordingly. Saint Francis staff can testify to the truth of Fr. Bob’s vision. We’ve seen it manifest in the lives of those children, youth, and families we serve again and again.
So, today, as we celebrate one kind of love, let us remember all the other ways to love and express them with the people we encounter in our lives and work – because the world could also use more love. Regardless of the type of love we feel, they all share the same characteristics:
“Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Is there room in your heart to love?
