I'm all about love, okay? But lately it's been all over the internet, with no substance behind it. "Spread the love." "Let's love each other." "You are loved." These sayings are plastered all over our social media walls.
I get it. We all want to look like we love people.
The truth is- we don't actually love everyone. I know we all mean well when we post things like that. But is a post to Facebook or Twitter really going to make someone feel loved? We are so saturated with love nowadays that I feel like the true meaning of it has left.
When I see these posts on social media, I don't feel any more loved. In fact, I cringe a little. My brain is like: I am loved? By who? You love me, even if you barely know me? I've seen your other posts, I don't think you love people like me.
If you want to spread love - show it, don't say it. Here are some ways you can make people feel loved:
1.) Tell them personally.
A lot of the time, the people who need love the most are not going to reach out to you. You need to reach out to them. Not through a Facebook post that everyone can see, but by personally going to them and letting them know you love them, you care about them, and that you are there for them. When I'm hurting and I see an acquaintance say "You are loved" on social media, I don't feel any better, because the message was impersonal. It's time to inter-personally reach out to those who need love.
2.) Check up on them.
Sometimes it's nice to get a message or phone call from someone you haven't talked to in a while, just because they're checking up on you. By doing checking up on someone, you're proving that you love them and care about them, even if your lives are so busy that you can barely breathe. Showing someone that you take time out of your day for them is one of the best ways to prove you love them.
3.) Smile At Strangers
Loving is not just for the people we know well. If you don't know someone, offering a simple smile could brighten their day. If you see that they're in need of help, offer to help.
It's time for us to put our words into action. Too many of us are caught up in trying to "love" so much that we end up hating on each other in the process. It is so great that you want to make others feel loved. So do it. Go out there and hug the people you love. Spread love to strangers with a smile. Check up on those you haven't talked to in a while. Pay for someone's meal. Write a thank you note to someone who has done a lot for you. When you see someone hurting, offer to pray for them. Posting something quick on social media is super easy, but it's probably not super effective.
So keep posting. Keep letting people know they are loved. But also, do something about it.
Show people they are loved.
