Love

2 Timothy 1:7, "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power of love and of self discipline."

There are so many scriptures that talk about love, basically, we are to love one another.  And loving one another is important for many reasons, that are deeper than we may think.

There were studies done in the 1940's and the 1950's with orphans.  These orphans were examined through their teen years and compared to teens that spent their whole lives in foster homes.  First, there was a high mortality rate in the babies that were in institutions rather than foster homes.  All of the babies basic needs were taken care of but, just their basic needs.  Researchers found no reason for these babies not to survive, and the babies that did survive and later lived in foster homes when compaired to the teens that grew up in foster homes, the first group were delayed intellectually.

The only thing that these babies were deprived of in the institutions was human contact.  They were fed, diapered, and they slept but they were not loved.

There has also been research done on spouses.  When one partner dies after they had been together for 20, 30, 40 or more years, it has been reported that the other spouse dies within months of the first death.  "Usually from heart failure,"  one doctor said but added, "I think it's more about connection."  Or as the article asks, "Can you die of a broken heart?"

My Dad died three years ago and I truly believe that my Mom is still alive after a 60 year marriage because she has five kids that love her and are around her daily.  She also has Grandkids and Great Grand kids and we all have always had much love for one another.

There is more to the command that Jesus gave us to love one another than you may think.  Life depends on love.  John 13: 34, "A new command I give you:  Love one another  As I have loved you, so you must love one another."  Jesus went on to say, "And now these three remain:  faith, hope and love.  But the greatest of these is love."

If the greatest is love and life depends on being loved and loving, it's importance is essential, so knowing this:  love one another, today.