The Freedom that comes from Loving Deeply
This year, my focus word is WONDER the kind that slows
you down, widens your eyes, and reminds you that you’re
part of something bigger and more beautiful than you
realized.
And if you’ve followed me around this past year or so…
you also know that I’m pretty big on living a life of
Freedom, the kind of life that’s on your terms, whatever
that means for you.
The kind of life that feels like coming home to yourself.
As I prayed, journaled, and listened, I felt a nudge to spend
the rest of this year exploring the Fruit of the Spirit not as
virtues to strive for, but as pathways to freedom… and as
invitations into wonder.
So for the next nine months, we’ll walk through each fruit
together. Slowly, with intention.
We’ll explore how each one frees us, shapes us, and
awakens us.
And we begin with the one that holds all the others:
LOVE.
Love that softens.
Love that steadies.
Love that frees.
Love that opens the door to wonder.
Let’s begin.
We use the same word “Love” to talk about how we feel
about our children, our partner, the last vacation, a sunny
day and that really good cheesecake we had at a
restaurant several years ago. Strange isn’t it?
When I googled the definition of Love, I found the
following:
“‘Love is a profound emotion, intense attraction, and deep
attachment, characterized by strong affection, care and
dedication towards a person, animal or object. It is often
expressed as a warm, and loyal concern for another’s well
being spanning across romantic selfless or platonic forms.”
The Bible talks about Love being the core of who God is,
and a roadmap of how we are to treat others. It’s not just a
feeling, but rather a choice.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 defines love as being patient, kind, it
is not envious, it does not boast and it is not proud.
John 4:18 Says “there is no fear in love. But perfect love
drives out fear”
The choice to love-sets us Free
Fear controls, constricts and keeps us small, love expands,
releases and sets us free.
Fear says “What If I fail”
Love says “I’m safe to try, and then try again”
Fear says” They might not like me”
Love says “I honor and love myself and others well
regardless”
Fear says “I might be rejected or abandoned”
Love says “I can be fully seen and still be ok”
Fear says “I need to manage everything so nothing goes
wrong”
Love says “I can trust, release and allow”
Fear says “I’m not enough”
Love says “I’m already worthy”
When we choose to view ourselves (and yes it starts with
ourselves), others, our situation, the season of life we are
in, and our daily routines from a place of love, we find that
we automatically begin to live life from a place of Wonder,
and begin to feel the freedom that comes with it.
Love loosens the grip of fear, comparison, and
self‑protection.
Where in your life are you coming from a place of fear,
comparison or self-protection? How can you practice Love
today?
With love, Tami