Love Is

What is love? I’ve heard many ask,

From whom does it come?

And to whom does it go?

Tell us, we really want to know.

I have heard some try to explain it,

They try to quantify and qualify

But always there’s something missing

And often leave you still guessing.

Some say it is a feeling you feel

Like having had a delicious meal,

Others attempt to prove it by talk

But never express it in their walk.

What is love?  Can no one show me?

I am desperate and I need to see

A demonstration of this phenomenon;

Can it be found in this earthly kingdom?

Check these examples hope they satisfy,

I will not attempt to quantify or qualify;

I’ll give them to you then you can decide

By which of them you’re willing to abide.

Love is a mother reaching out to a child

And wondering the source of its pain;

Knowing no sleep till she brings relief

And rids him of his discomfort and grief.

Love is a father watching a child

As it makes its first unsteady steps;

Walking beside in case of a stumble

Helping to avoid a discouraging tumble.

Love is a brother or indeed a sister

Ready ever to defend that sibling

That encounters a stroke of misfortune

And seeks the other’s understanding.

Love is a friend who is like a brother

Though not born of the same mother;

Does what he can to comfort another

In the time of his trouble and bother.

  

Love is a fireman in a burning building

Refusing to leave it till he is sure

That all of the occupants are safely out

And only then he heads for the door.

Love is an artist who patiently paints

Aiming for that elusive master-piece

While anticipating that moment of joy

When the eyes of the world will have a feast.

Love is a teacher whose heart is troubled

By a single pupil who is unable to grasp

And with great empathy she finds a way

To bring him on par with the rest of the class.

Love is a child who clings to a parent

Though a spanking has just occurred;

Love is a parent who hugs that child

And makes sure that love is not blurred.

Love is a kind and gracious person

Who offers help to someone in need;

Who asks and expects nothing in return

Regardless of status, ethnicity or creed.

Love is one man and one woman

Who stand before God declaring, “I do”;

And thereby forsaking all others

Cling to one another in love that’s true.

But notice something of all the above,

Human love is limited in scope and depth

And no matter how hard we have tried

The greatest human need remained unmet.

This need required the greatest love of all,

There’s only one on whom God could call;

His only begotten Son he did commission

To die for us was his sacrificial expression.

God’s love looked down from on high

And saw a people he wanted to draw nigh;

A people he wanted for His very own

That He could nurture and set life’s tone.

The more He would reach out to them

The more they would spurn His love;

Till finally in the fullness of God’s time

Love came down from heaven above.

Love in human form met human kind,

Love left heaven’s glory, from it resigned

To journey to a cross to die for my sin

So that a crown of glory I could win.

Leaving heaven’s glory to take my place,

Experiencing contempt and loss of face,

Reaching out to me in my disgrace,

His love for my hate, His amazing grace.

How can I quantify such wondrous love

Or in my finite mind attempt to qualify?

The least I can do, yea, the most I rephrase

Is surrender to Christ, my sufficient supply.

God’s Divine love pursued after my soul,

His amazing grace has made me whole.

Christ conquered Calvary removing my load,

What mercy, what grace, what love untold!

Love is the Saviour who took my place,

Yes! Love is this sinner saved by grace,

Love is my Shepherd who is the Lamb,

I am that sheep saved by the great “I AM”.

Stewart Russell © 2015