Choosing to Love, Risking Loss

Children are wise. They ask really brilliant questions that can make you stop in your tracks, and examine the cosmos. They can also make things so plain and simple that it changes your foggy perspective, and helps you to see life clearly -- like a child. My children are always teaching me. Every single day.

The other day I was talking about my sister's dog dying with the children. (For her full blog post about the experience click: HERE.) My William, who is 7, was really concerned about it, and even shed tears of sadness. I explained that they knew she would die one day, but that she is OK now, free and happy. In his innocence William asked, "If they knew she was going to die, then why did they get her in the first place?"

I was shocked at his thought, but it also made me smile, and consider the question seriously.

When we know that relationships on this earth can be ended through death and loss, then why bother having them in the first place? Why risk it? Why face the heartache when you can just avoid it all together?

It is a good question.

But the answer is simple: Relationships don't have to end, they can, and do, go on forever. 

I am talking of humans now... though I am sure animals have a special place in Heaven. No doubt.

As we travel through life, the people that we love will eventually exit this world, and onto a better one. It is part of this mortal existence to love and to let go for awhile. Though the experiences of loss are excruciatingly painful, and you wonder how you can possibly endure another moment with the weight of sorrow -- we are meant to feel those feelings, and love so much that the loss hurts so much when we are parted. The more you love, the more it hurts.

Trust me, I have known that pain. I have known that love. I have experienced that loss.

We all know when we commit to a relationship in this life that it could potentially be cut short through death, altered through accidents, illness, pain, etc. We know this, but we still choose to love despite the risk of loss. But the real risk is in not loving at all, because this life is short, and eternity is long. We might walk without our love for a season, but it is but a moment in the scheme of forever.

Don't be afraid to love for fear of loss.

Just imagine if you never took that risk, how sad life would be! People need love, friends, family. We need to have relationships and experience what it means to truly have that love in our hearts. People need people. We need to learn and grow from each other, we need to serve and take care of each other. We are here for that purpose, to learn how to have pure love in our hearts.

People need love. They need to give it, and they need to receive it.

And though I have loved and lost, I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.

Love is worth the pain of loss.

Because I have not truly lost him, after all.

He is mine forever.

The risk was worth it.