Puppy love
One of the most overused word in the English language is love. It describes a myriad of feelings from sarcasm, complacency, acceptance, and finally the true emotion of love. We could substitute the word lovely, like you look lovely today, instead of I love the way you look. We could also use the word like more often, when saying I really like pizza. But for some reason we use the word love to describe a new haircut, pair of shoes, as well as part of our wedding vows. When you really stop and think about the word’s usage, it should be a little disconcerting to know the same word is used to vow undying love, as your appetite for pizza.
When Paul Anka was 17 he fell in love with Annette Funicello, and wrote her one of the 60’s most memorable songs, which is still popular today.
Puppy Love
Songwriter: Paul Anka
And they called it puppy love
Oh, I guess they’ll never know
How a young heart really feels
And why I love her so
And they called it puppy love
Just because we’re in our teens
Tell them all, please tell them it isn’t fair
To take away my only dream
I cry each night my tears for you
My tears are all in vain
I’ll hope and I’ll pray that maybe someday
You’ll be back in my arms once again
Someone, help me, help me, help me please
Is the answer up above
How can I, oh how can I tell them
This is not a puppy love
Someone, help me, help me, help me please
Is the answer up above
How can I, oh how can I tell them
This is not a puppy love, not a puppy love
When he wrote this song he was convinced that he met his one true love, and that it would last a lifetime. History tells us that in fact it did not last, but it did not make his emotion any less true at the time.
The whole concept of love is measured by the Creator of the world. With His immeasurable love He gave His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ to be the sacrifice for sin, and because of His boundless love, His son died to save the world from eternal damnation. Now that’s the kind of love I’m talking about; Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13
Do you remember the first time you fell in love, or how old you were? Do you remember your parent’s reaction, when they told you it was just puppy love? Do you remember the range of emotions you had, when you thought you were in love? You couldn’t eat, sleep did not come easily, and all you could do was think about that other person. When you stop and think about that feeling, it is much like the innocent love of a child. There is no guile, insecurity, or ego involved, it is just raw emotion. That is the kind of love that Jesus wants from us, unbridled, vulnerable, with no guile, just the raw emotion of love. He wants us to make him the most loved thing in the whole world, including the love we have for ourselves.
As parents it is important that we never make light of or disregard any feelings of love our children wish to share with us. While we may think it is a passing fancy, to express such a thought would shake their confidence in us. Instead is important for us to teach them what a blessing it is to have those feelings, and the parameters in which those feelings should be expressed. Helping your child understand and choose a proper mate for life can be found in the Word of God if you are both willing to read it and listen to the words God tells you.
We as authors, are one of the guiltiest people on the planet for over using the word love. We use it for describing walks in the rain, our favorite type of beverage, new clothes, etc… When we are tempted to overuse this word let us stop and considered a different noun or verb to take its place. The word love should be reserved for a deep abiding feeling that transcends all other emotions. GOD’S LOVE IS ETERNAL
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. We love him, because he first loved us. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
I John 4:10-12, 16&19-20
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Matthew 22:37
As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
John 15:9
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
I Corinthians 13:13