The Love Dare is a 40 day challenge you can take with a spouse, family, or even alone. Each day you learn a new attribute of love and are given the opportunity to apply it. It will change who you think God is, and it will change who you are in relationship to God and to others.
Today is the last day of the Love Dare Challenge ~ Day 40: Love has no regrets.
What does it mean to love without regret?
My grandfather died at a early age, hunting on Halloween night. I remember my Grandmother saying: “I only wish I hadn’t complained so much about his bad habits. I just wish I could hear him snore next to me one more night.”
Regrets.
A father who chose his career over his family, watches his daughter walk down the isle on the arm of her step-father.
Regrets.
A wife who chose her children over her husband wonders why he left her for another woman.
Regrets.
Do any of these scenerios sound familiar to you? What about these Top 10 Deathbed Regrets:
1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life other people expected of me.
2. I wish I took time to be with my children more when they were growing up.
3. I wish I had the courage to express my feelings, without the fear of being rejected or unpopular.
4. I wish I would have stayed in touch with friends and family.
5. I wish I would have forgiven someone when I had the chance.
6. I wish I would have told the people I loved the most how important they are to me.
7. I wish I would have had more confidence and tried more things, instead of being afraid of looking like a fool.
8. I wish I would have done more to make an impact in this world.
9. I wish I would have experienced more, instead of settling for a boring life filled with routine, mediocrity and apathy.
10. I wish I would have pursued my talents and gifts.
(contributed by Shannon L. Alder, author and therapist that has 17 years of experience working with hospice patients) -Shannon L. Alder
Reading these deathbed regrets, I am pressed with the question: If something happened to me or someone I love today or tomorrow, would I have regrets for how I have loved?
Tweet ThisA life with no regrets requires a love that can only be given by God ~ A love of courage. A love of gratitude. A love that accepts. A love that forgives. A love that listens. A love that sees. A love that overlooks imperfections. A love that acts.
God is all these attributes and more. God is love.
My beloved friends, let us continue to love each other since love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and experiences a relationship with God. The person who refuses to love doesn’t know the first thing about God, because God is love—so you can’t know him if you don’t love. 1 John 4:7-8 (Message)
I invite you to take The Love Dare with me. All the picture posters (like the one in this blog) and challenges can be found on Instagram (angelacraig2020), Twitter, and Facebook. You can follow me on any of these social platforms and download the LOVE DARE of the day to your phone or computer to enjoy and share with others. I have done the upfront work but it is up to you to have the courage to do the behind the scenes work, where it really counts.
Take The Love Dare today! LOVE will change your life and your world!
Angela Howard
December 7, 2015So important to live our lives in light of eternity–loving the way Jesus loves. This is a great challenge to me today! Thank you for the reminder to love without regret.