What is Love?
By: Kayla Collins, Marketing and Events Manager
Valentine’s Day is only a few weeks away; folks, mark your calendars now so you don’t forget! It’s the one day that we treat the ones we love by buying chocolates, cards, and flowers but is this really what love is?
Here at Habitat for Humanity, we look at love a little differently. We don’t wait for February 14th to show our love, every day we seek to put God’s love into action by bringing people together to build homes, communities and hope. Every day we undertake our work in the community to demonstrate the love and teachings that Jesus has taught us. We aim to show love daily by empowering our neighbors and partnering with them to build a better future.
“We know love by this that he laid down his life for us – and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses to help? Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.” 1 John 3:16-18
We believe that showing love through our actions and work is key. When we provide shelter to a family in Summit County, we are demonstrating our love. Love of our neighbors motivates us daily to continue to build. 80% of our homes are built by volunteers who also value showing love through acts of kindness. These volunteers demonstrate their love through action.
“‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:31
We believe strong thriving communities are built by connecting neighbors and empowering homeowners through love. We are commanded to show love and kindness to everyone, every single neighbor no matter the gender, race, political views, or religion. Just as we are told to show love to everyone, we also believe that EVERYONE deserves a decent place.
Join us this Valentine’s Day by committing to live a life full of love instead of just dedicating one day of the year to displaying it. Love through more than word or speech and instead by truth and action by partnering with Habitat for Humanity to volunteer on a build site or in the ReStore. And always remember to love your neighbor as yourself, as love can change the world.