What does love mean to you? Iʼm talking about real love. How do you define it? Is it superficial? Is it about what you can take or what you can give? Iʼm sure we can agree, that we need more love in our world. However, it will never be seen in the world, if it isnʼt exemplified in our hearts. In fact it begins with us. How can you expect someone to love you, if you don’t love yourself?

Love isn’t a holiday that begins and ends on Valentine’s Day. It should grow stronger day by day. Gifts don’t replace love, for love is the greatest gift. Understand the principle, that you can give without loving, but you can’t love without giving. When you show love everyday, then a holiday is just like any other day. Love positions you for the future and propels you, past your past. Roses wilt and chocolates get stale but only real love lasts.

It’s not worth settling, just to say you have a Valentine. Some relationships are filled with expensive gifts, but empty hearts. The bracelet became a handcuff, because you’re shackled to someone who is not good for you. An empty pocket that has a heart filled with love, is more wealthy than a full pocket, with a heart void of love.

Looking for love in all the wrong places, is not worth it, just to say you have somebody. You donʼt have to go searching for love. If you become a person of love and reflect the spirit of love, then love will find you. You will attract what you become.

You don’t need phony, fair-weather friends, and fickle folks in your life. You need dependability and sustainability. How someone treats you, is an indication of who they are and what you allow. Realize that you give people a blueprint on how to treat you, by the way you treat yourself. Sometimes you have to teach people how to treat you, or they will mistreat you. The substratum of how they treat you, is also an indication of what they think about themselves. If they don’t think much of themselves, they won’t think much of you. As a result, they will treat you less than you deserve.

If they really love you and love themselves, then they will know how to treat you in the process. Their actions will show you, better than their words can tell you. Their actions will let you know, if it’s real love or lip service. Real love is expressed in how they treat you, not just what they say to you. Indeed love is a verb, it requires action. Don’t just say it, show it!

You’re too special to be the right gift at the wrong address. Don’t believe what they say, at the expense of ignoring what you see. Love is action and it will show through, in how someone treats you. Words fall on deaf ears, when actions are seen with wide eyes.

Real love doesn’t tear you down. It lifts you up. When it’s real love, you won’t have to question it. The answers will show in their actions. The right one will recognize your value. They can clearly see, that you are a red box and a gold bow. You’re a gift to the world. If people don’t recognize your value, that’s their loss. Never lose sight of the gift and value that God placed within you. If you’re single, divorced, separated, or married you must know your value whether or not someone is with you.

Don’t let someone’s mismanagement of love, stop you from believing in love. Don’t allow disappointments to stop you from expecting to receive love. The right person will make you realize, why the wrong one never worked in the first place. Discernment will show you the difference, be- tween the right one and the one right now. Don’t get in such a hurry, that you settle for less than God’s intended best for your life. When you’re where God’s love abides, you will always be where the love resides.

Dr. Eddie is a 12x best-selling author, international speaker, and cancer survivor. Connect with him on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @EddieConnorJr. Join Dr. Eddie’s Academy at www.DrEddieAcademy.com