Welcome to the Beautiful View Podcast, where we encourage you to look for opportunities in your life to see a beautiful view. Candy and I'm Paul. 

Today, since we're approaching Valentine's Day, of course we're going to talk about love. Ah. 

Woo. 

Yes, we. This episode is called Love is a verb. 

What a verb. OK. 

A verb. Whether you are married, single in a relationship or it's complicated, there will be something for you to laugh about and hopefully encourage you on your journey. 

So sit back, relax, and enjoy the beautiful view. 

Well, here we are. 

Here we are. 

I guess we survived a live podcast experience. 

We did, and if you missed that, that ones online now too, you can go back and watch it. Yeah. And you know. 

It is. 

Yep. 

It was really a fun. 

It a fun day. 

There was this great crowd from the get. I mean, even when we started, we were the first ones up. And so it was kind of like it was at 1:00 PM, the middle of the day. 

Everywhere, yeah. 

Yeah. 

I didn't know how that would go, but. Yeah, we had a decent crowd and they were responsive. 

Ah, the rice. 

Was a little bit hard to hear in there. 

Oh, very responsive. It was that the the room has like high ceilings, concrete ceilings. 

Mm. 

Stone walls, concrete floors. So it's like a little bit like a cave in there. So it was hard to hear but. 

Yeah, yeah. 

We did have a decent crowd. I mean, there was a huge crowd later on. 

By the end of the day, it. A party. 

It was but. For hours we were a little more subdued. And you know, and it was. But the the people that were there were. Yeah, I felt like the time flew by, which it did. 

Yeah, we we may have talked a little fast on it just because I think it was just nerves more than anything and we were kind of we were pretty purposefully had scripted it pretty tightly so that we didn't get. 

We were, yeah, we. A little nervous. We did. 

Too far off 'cause. Sometimes that doesn't go well. And there's no editing when you are live. 

No, no editing at all. When I mess up. You know, I I can. But you know there it's it is what it is. 

Yeah, yeah. 

I felt like. What we've learned from this experience is next time we'll probably have a little more material so that we have a little more. 

Fill out a little more time and slow down. 

Slow the heck down. Yeah, and I. And I felt like. Because I knew that the PA wasn't quite reaching people at the. Weren't paying attention, so I kept announcing everything. 

Yeah. 

Sorry, I sounded like I don't. I was the announcer at a train station or something. The airport, you know. Hello today is the beautiful view. I just. It was. It wasn't very natural, so, but it was a good reception and the other podcast is kept saying things along the lines of like, we set the tone. 

It was fun though. 

So I feel like with the podcasting parents or something like that. 

Well, you know, I mean, the whole premise of our podcast was about just soaking up every moment and recognizing where you're at right now and getting the people around you and just. Taking it all. So that was kind of what our podcast was. So it was kind of perfect to kind of start the day with. 

It. 

Think so anyway. 

It was, yeah. 

Yeah, if you missed it, that podcast is up on all of our channels. If you want to go. 

It is. 

And check it out so. 

Yes, it is. So the weather has taken a a change over the last week. 

It's been a weird winter here. 

It's. 

Been a very weird winter so it was a week and a half ago. Had negative. We woke up in the. We were supposed to go to Dubuque to pick up the. For the food share. And so I go out couple of hours before we're supposed to leave and I put the block heater on the diesel truck and it was so cold. And so anyway, we went out there, we still couldn't. 

Mm. Mm. 

It started. 

It. It was like. 

It wasn't. 

It wasn't going. 

To start, so we jump in Emily's car. And we took that instead. But then we went from that to this. 

Well, that week they actually cancelled one day of school because it was so cold. Was no. It wasn't really a snow day. It was like an extreme cold weather day and the only thing I can think of that they would have, you know, is for like the bus kids. 

Keep calling. Bye bye. 

It was. 

You know, standing at a bus stop, waiting for a bus. 

Yeah. 

You know, I get it so. 

And I don't know how those school buses go, but they're all diesel, so they must be facing the same issues. 

Yeah, I don't know. 

I. 

Don't know how that works. 

Either. 

Works. 

But for school to be cancelled in Iowa, that's kind of a big deal. 

Yeah. 

Doesn't happen that often, but then we went from that to this past Thursday was 55° in the day. 

Yeah. 

Yeah, it was gorgeous. 

It was really nice. And so now there I mean it's sunny outside right now. 

Yeah. 

Mm. 

I don't know what the temperature is, but it's not. It's like, let me see if I can see that far about 50° right now. And so it's really nice and sunny right now there is no snow on the. 

Ground. Now the river is even melting. I mean the it's not it. 

Yeah. 

There are boats out on the river this morning. Yeah, so. 

Up. 

The shin boats out there so South of the dam. The It's just there's no ice north of the dam. There's a little bit of ice, but it's not anything that even a duck would go out and walk on. It's just like bust right through it it. Thin, yeah. 

Yeah, anyway. So what else have we been up to? 

Well, we've had basketball games, so yes, we have beans kind of touring around the countryside. 

Oh. 

Watching basketball games with Tyler and Tyler's been having the chance to play here and there. 

Yeah. Yep, Yep. 

It's been good. 

We even tied in a you and me day to 1 basketball game. It was out of town and so we stopped off and had lunch at. A great revivalist brewery in Clinton, and yeah, it was I had a smash burger and you had like the. 

Yes, which is excellent. 

You did. 

I had an aneurys. Lobster sandwich, which sounds very fancy, and it it was pretty delicious. Was very, very good. 

Yeah. Yeah, we had a an outing at one of our friends houses. Have a foosball table. 

Yes. 

This is actually foosball table number two. The first one got. 

You're. Kind of busted up. 

And that may or may not had something to do with someones really competitive nature. No names. 

Our enthusiasm. Our enthusiasm, yes. 

But yeah, so we went over there and. Had a really good great time and heated foosball. 

Games and it was we are competitive for sure. 

What's that? 

There was a there was a little guy that got broken in the process. 

Yeah, he had to be carried off in a Gurney. You know, it was, it was not good. 

Thankfully, he was just a plastic guy. 

Yeah, I mean he we can fix. 

Or wood? Yeah, he's. 

Yeah, with do some. We do some plastic surgery. 

Inter parable but. 

He'll be repaired and back-to-back to the game. Before you know it. 

This thank you for joining us. We did not win the best Wellness and relationship podcast at the Iowa Podcast Awards last year for Nothing. 

This is true. 

Today we are going to jump into the topic of love. Specifically, we're going to talk about how love is a verb. 

That's what. 

A verb. 

OK, OK. So Valentine's Day is coming up next week, and it's on a Friday this year. Yeah, a Friday night. 

Yes. 

Yes. 

A Friday. Guys, this is your friendly reminder to plan something if you have a special someone in your life. 

Easy. 

Yes. 

As of the release of this episode, you have almost a week. 

Whole week, that's like hours. And hours. And hours. 

OK. So have. Joke for you. Are you ready? OK. 

OK, sure. 

Did you hear about the porcupine? Was near sighted. 

Uh. He tripped over the tortoise while he was going across the road. 

He fell in love with a pincushion. 

Oh dear. Oh no. 

So he was obviously not a big conversationalist. 

No, I think he was love at first sight. 

So. 

Oh. 

Getting worse. So keeping it real. Each week we take a minute to take a photograph for our thumbnail for the. For the episode, and so yesterday you got back from work, which was kind of a hectic day. 

Oh yeah, yeah. 

Yeah. 

And got changed and it's instantly jump in front of the camera. Do the picture for this week. Yeah. Which involved a little kiss. 

And at some. 

Point you did what you just did right there, and you bust out laughing right in my face. 

Yeah. 

I think it might have even blown some air in your mouth. About that. 

Air mixed with spit. Yes you did. I just wanted to thank you for that. 

My bad. Oh, you welcome. My bad. Love is real. 

That's real. We don't usually do a big like couples Valentine's because our anniversary is like right after that. The next week, yes. But we usually do something, don't we? 

Yeah. It's like the next week. Yeah, we have always done a big family Valentine's. I just know. That when I was a kid, you know, especially like middle school and high school. Like you're in such an awkward stage. And I wasn't one. I didn't have a boyfriend. And in during those times most of the time. 

Yeah. 

You know, but you've. 

Got most of the time. 

Yeah, probably ever. I don't think ever. So anyway, but you know, you've got kids that bring gifts for their girlfriend and they're you got girls carrying around teddy bears and flowers and and you know you're. 

I know. 

You can just feel really left out and really kind of like depressed on Valentine's Day and well. 

Yeah, I know how that feels. As a kid. 

I mean, I felt it too, and I. I just never wanted my kids to feel left out on love, so that's always been a big thing to me, especially on Valentine's Day. 

Right. 

They're always. But Valentine's Day, there's such a high concentration of that I just always wanted to make sure that they knew. 

Mm. 

Yeah. 

Whether they had a Valentine or not, that they are definitely love. 

Especially in school, where every all the kids are looking each other and they kind of keeping count of like, who got the most, you know, whatever that's that just happens. 

Yes, yes. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It. And now our son actually does have a Valentine this year. 

Does that's OK? 

So we have to share him, but that's OK. Valentine will. Valentine's Day is actually one year since they went on their first date. 

Yes, and she asked him. 

Last year. 

Him. 

She did, yes. 

Yeah. 

Yeah. So they they'll be celebrating a. They really are the cutest and for Christmas I got them these silly socks that they have like little faces and eyes on them and they've got arms. And at the end of the their little hands they have magnets. 

They are the cutest couple. 

Mm. 

If they're sitting next to each other. 

The arms go out. 

Little socks hold hands. It was hilarious and they thought they were hilarious, which was my intention is to get a laugh. So that was funny. 

Oh, they were really good. 

That's about that. We have done some really fun family Valentine's days. One year we loaded the kids up and we went to Rio Dosa, New Mexico, and we rented the Airbnb cabin in the woods. 

Mm. Mm. Yeah, and it was. I mean, it was nice. 

That's pretty. 

Was super. It was in a really beautiful spot, but there was kind of one. Problem with it. 

Yeah. So like it was one of those things like if if they had done a YouTube video. And like they did, like some nice panning shots around the cabin. And there was, like, a deck outside with a hot tub and all the trees. And it's so quiet and secluded that would have been great because on YouTube you cannot smell a thing. 

Mm. 

However, when we. There there's like little sort of scratching noises. Underneath that deck and the definite smell of a little cute skunk family. Yes. Who who weren't paying rent? Even like we had to pay to stay there. They. 

OK. 

Not pay. 

No, no. But they stayed the whole time we were there. 

They staged the whole time and it was an interesting aroma. 

Yeah, it was. But the highlight of that trip was taking the kids snow tubing. 

Yeah. That was fun. 

Oh my goodness, Emily. She was so scared back then. 

Bless her heart. 

Was scared of. She was scared of everything. So. 

Of. 

So the idea of going up the little, it's kind of like a little. What do you call that? So we rode that up and got to the top and she's just like, what have you gotten me to? 

Right. 

But once she went down once she was hooked. I mean, she was like, let's do it again and again and again and again. 

Was in, yeah. Loved it. 

And I went Tyler too. And he was a little bitty guy back then. 

Yeah. 

I don't even. He was probably 4. 

And it it was way faster than it should have been because. 

5. Everything had melted and refrozen, so it was like, yeah, sliding down on an ice hill so. 

It. So it's ice. It's just ice. Not. Not very safe, it's fine. 

Fun. 

So we've done various things over the years and one of my favorites and the one that had the most thought put into it was when I surprised you with a trip to Valentine, TX on Valentine's Day. 

Mm. Oh yes. Yeah, that was pretty wild because we were actually, we were camping at Fort Davis. 

So we were. 

At the time. 

We were already on a trip. 

Right. 

So we were having a great time there. And So what I had done is I'd already made sure with the owners of the RV park there. 

And. Were having a great time there. 

That it would be OK for us to leave like all of our stuff behind while we went to Valentine. 

Not the RV, but like all our sewer pipes, water. 

As sewer pipes because I wanted. 

And all the. 

Make a quick. So that morning I got up early before you woke up and I went outside, detached the sewer pipes. I had everything sort of ready and and then I just, like, we're going to hook up the RV. 

Mm. 

From so sneaky. 

Going somewhere? 

I was so confused 'cause. I'm a planner, so I'm like, and I'm like, really into all the details and I. 

I. What about all the stuff? 

But I mean, we go out in the trunk all the time when we're camping and go, you know, maybe a day trip or something. But the whole RV, I was so confused. 

Yeah. 

Yeah. But I. Already contacted the owner of the RV Park in Valentine, TX. Now the whole the whole thing is it's based on this event that they used to do at the time. Where it's like an outdoor concert. It's country music. 

Mm. 

There was a brewery. That was sponsoring the whole events, so it was Valentine's and Valentine's. So very well publicized, very well planned. 

Yeah. Oh yeah. 

So I contact the owner of the RV park there and I reserve a space for our RV, which was kind of there was only like 8 spaces there so but it was it was. It was cool because we were traveling there and and I said to you I. 

It's basically a parking lot. Yeah. 

OK. 'Cause I was not telling you anything. 

No, you're being very secretive. 

So I'm like, OK. Have to call. The owner of the RV park that we're going to be staying at to tell him that we're on our way. So I call the owner of the RV park and I said so. So do I call you Mayor, Mr. Mayor? And you're like what? Turns out the owner of the RV Park and I didn't know this, but he was the Mayor of Valentine, TX. Was the mayor of the city. So I'm talking to the mayor on the. 

Yeah. 

Own. 

I. 

So anyway, we had a great time. We parked. We did the whole thing and the kids came with us. 

Yeah. 

Was a great time. 

It was we had the best time and we tried it again the next year, which it wasn't really a surprise that year. 

Yeah. 

Was more planned, but it was so miserably. 

Freezing. 

That. Oh my gosh. The we were bundled up, but the wind was just so, so cold. 

A bit hard. 

Still had fun, but I. Think we stayed as long that time. 

No, we couldn't. Even the beer froze. 

Yeah. It was. We haven't always had a special destination, but we always at least do some kind of special meal. Grilled steaks? We've grilled burgers. We've done build your own pizzas with little heart-shaped pepperonis, so we've done build your own tacos with heart-shaped little pieces of cheese. 

Yes. 

All the things because I'm a little cheesy. 

Which means so much, yeah. Oh yeah, you are. But it means so much to. Kids. Yeah, yeah. 

It does make get a big kick out of it. One year we were. South Padre Island. 

Uh. 

I tell you, I wouldn't mind celebrating on the beach again. 

That's like there's something so romantic about walking along the beach together. And, you know, with the dogs kind of running ahead of its toes in the sand. And there's so much to do there. Yeah. 

Hand in hand. Toes in the sand. Oh yeah, for sure. I just always want my people to know that they are loved on Valentine's Day and every day, parents. 

Yes. 

Make sure that your kids know that they're loved on Valentine's. It can be a rough day for some kids, so just go out of your way a little bit just to make sure they know that they're loved, yeah. 

Yeah, it's something special. Yeah, I think you and Emily are actually working at the brewery on Valentine's Day this year. 

Yeah, we. 

That right? 

Hey, maybe we can cut all the pepperonis for the flatbreads into little hearts. 

Ohh wow. 

Yeah. And then the guys could pretend like it was all their idea. They called ahead and had the special pizza, the special. Made with. Heart-shaped pepperoni. 

You know, now that I've said that, I'm gonna probably. To follow through with. 

You might have to follow through with it, yes. But you made Valentine's food items for us. Of times. 

Yeah, we, we've done a lot of different things. Done some some. It's always there's always hearts involved or you know, something. It's just fun. 

Yes it is. 

It's fun so. Yes, I heard a story about a couple. They went on a Valentine's date at a fancy restaurant, the woman tells the man to say something to her that it will get her heart racing. 

OK. Oh, OK. 

He says. I forgot my wallet. 

Wow. 

So. 

So. 

Do you feel like? 

Uh. 

Extra pressure put on guys for Valentine's Day. 

Yes. And I think rightly so. I know for most guys, it's not the most natural thing to do to express love, you know. Doesn't come easy. And I also know that most ladies notice if it's been some time since you did. So I also think that our partners can kind of get used to that mode of like, not. I love you not hearing those expressions and that's and they, you know, your lady might say, oh, it's not a big deal, you know, but. It kind of is, and there's no reason to continue that way. So I think it's good for guys to. Let's say made aware of their romantic responsibilities. You know, at least once a year or twice anniversary. 

Too. 

Important and and Valentine's Day fair. 

OK. Okay ours just happened to be. Week apart. So you get yours over with really quick. 

A week apart. 

Over with. 

Wow. 

Wow. I thought you were gonna say like they're together. You don't remember. 

Oh, an abundance of. Yeah, yeah, yeah. OK. 

Yeah, yeah. 

Probably what I should have said. 

That's what you should have said, yes. 

I feel like the word love gets thrown around a lot these days in an unbelievable way. 

Yes it does. 

What do you think of when? Hear the word love. 

Well, when I say I love you to you, which is at least what 3-4 times a day. Or so. 

A lot more. 

I mean it can mean different things. I mean, first of all, it could mean I'm sorry. 

Chirp. 

Or I could be simply saying thank you for doing something. 

Hmm. 

Or I could be saying I love doing life with you. Can't imagine life without you, that kind of thing. 

Yeah. 

Or I could be providing reassurance to you, like if you're stressed or things aren't going well, I can say I love you just to say I'm here for you. 

Sure. 

With you. 

Yeah, yeah. 

Yeah. 

Most of the time, it's when you know like you're doing things for family or friends, and it's kind of a thoughtful thing, like, you are often think of things that even they're not thinking of, and it's unexpected. And I'm saying you are so uniquely great. 

Yeah. No. 

So it's kind of a shorthand way of exclaiming that I notice you that I see and I love you. 

You hear people talking about all the time. It was just love at first sight. I'm not sure that was the case for us, but. 

Wow. All right. 

Or for me necessarily. I mean, as some of you may know, we originally met online. 

Yes, we did. 

Would you like to tell our listeners what picture you originally sent me? 

Well, it was a series of pictures like the first time. You sent me a photograph of you. 

Yeah, which was. 

The picture on the balcony. 

Yes, it was a true picture of me. 

On the balcony. Yeah, legs on the on the rail. 

Hi you don't have to go into detail. 

Anyway, so you sent me that picture and I'm like. Oh gosh. So then there's me. 

So I I am. 

I. 

Going to send her a picture. And so the first picture I sent you was like a chimpanzee. 

Yeah. 

Yeah. 

I think that was probably there were various different ones, but you sent like 3. 

And then. 

Orangutan, yeah. 

Or so of. 

I was running out of different types of monkeys. Like every time you ask me would be a different monkey that I would. 

Yeah. Yeah. So. But I knew one thing about you from that was I knew you had. 

Uh. 

Sense of humor. 

Yeah. And I didn't take myself seriously, right? 

So, I mean, yeah, yeah, so. What up? Whatever. Whatever. You looked like it was going to be better than a monkey. 

Right. And that was not like, that's the brain. Like I'm I'm thinking like when she finally does get the real picture, you know, it's going to be like Oh yeah. At least you started. 

At least you're not a monkey. 

At least you better looking than a monkey. Marginally, just a little bit better. 

You. 

Claim to have known we were meant to be together from the very beginning. It might have taken me a. More time to come to that conclusion, but. 

Yeah, but for me, at that point in my life, I was determined that I was going to live my life on track. So I was going to go with what I believed I was supposed to do. Rather than meeting other people's expectations. 

OK. 

So, like our relationship the way it came about the way that we developed our friendship at 1st and it I just felt like it was meant to be like it was the. It was the one part of my life that made absolute sense. 

Hmm. 

So I came to our relationship with that like sort of overarching kind of feeling about the whole thing. So yes, I was way ahead of you on that thing, but I knew it wasn't going to take long before, you know, you were. You caught up? Yeah. 

I did catch. I did catch up in apparently pretty quickly because yeah, that we were from the day, from the day that we met in person till the day we got married was about nine months. 

Yes. Right. And and. We were already talking about me coming over to to live in EU. Us, you know, within the first three weeks of US meeting in person. 

Yeah. So to me, love is an action word. 

Yes. 

It's a verb. You can say all the words, but love is still something that you do. 

Yeah, it is. 

We're about to celebrate our 23rd wedding anniversary in a couple of weeks. 

We are. 

And I feel like we both live out our love in our marriage and in our family. 

Yes, we do. We do. 

When someone loves us, they make a point of showing. For us. That can look different in different relationships. 

So thinking about next week, I really struggle sometimes to think of a gift for you that would say what I want it to say. 

Mm. 

That make any sense? You know, I find it easier to do something together. Go for a meal, a walk. You know, something like that. 

Mm. 

I think it's more meaningful to do something for you consistently, like make sure you have a cup of coffee in the. Or. 

Mm. 

To work with you make you a cup of tea when you come home. 

Yeah. 

Home. You know, like something that feels like I'm serving. I feel like that's more meaningful than than a gift, you know. 

Yeah, I mean, I would agree. I think love is in the little things. And I have the absolute best 6 foot coffee makers. You bring me coffee every morning. 

I try to yes, sometimes I don't remember. Like bust out bedding. Oh crap, I forgot the coffee. 

But seriously, you do repairs on the truck on the RV. On the House and all of those things, keep us safe and. You help around the house with dishes and laundry, and you know, just things like. You work hard to earn money for a family, and those are all actions that show both me and the kids love. 

And you, you make sure that we have. We need. You're always thinking about what's coming up next in our lives like. Got in your mind? Like all of our. Like you know what's important to us, what's coming up and what we're going to need to, you know, be equipped and ready to do those things. 

Mm. 

And us sign ours. 

Hmm. 

We like to talk everything through. 

Mm. 

Like whatever is coming up in our lives, you know, we just like to talk it through and from every different angle. 

Mm. 

And so you just very patiently listen to us, no matter how long that takes. Love you. 

And I love you too. 

And and I apologize. 

Well it it's. That is I I love doing that. It's important to me to tell. Thank you. When you do those little things too. When our efforts go unacknowledged, we can feel kind of invisible and. Sometimes we forget why we're bothering to put in the effort if no one notices it. It doesn't matter if I'm at home, loving on my family by cooking a nice meal for them, keeping the house clean so that we all have a comfortable place to hang out or physically giving a hug or a kiss. All of those things are actions with some sort of a result. I can tell my husband and kids all day long that I love them, but if. Back that up with actions that show that I love them. My words are empty. And on the flip side of that, if I'm constantly giving of myself with no acknowledgement or appreciation, then that's hard too. 

Yes. 

Sure. 

I will say though, that my family is pretty good at saying thank you and showing appreciation. 

I feel like loving you when I when I express my love for you. It's kind of like an act of worship I feel like. You know, like you might be the one I'm serving in bringing you a cup of coffee. Or I'm telling you that I love you. But what I feel like when I'm doing that is I'm really giving praise to God and saying thank you for bringing us together. 

No. 

And to share the life that you gave both of us, it's just a very special thing. 

Yeah. 

It's kind of bigger than us. 

Yeah. Yeah, no, I get that. Love takes work. And work is the definition of a verb. If we think about this for a minute and really consider the meaning of love. 

Yes. 

We'll see that it is filled with actions. 

Mm. 

Sacrificing, serving, listening, honoring protecting, trusting, appreciating, affirming, among many other things. 

Love is about making a positive difference in the lives of those around us. It doesn't matter if you're single in a. Marriage have children or not, we can all show love and every one has a desire to be loved. 

Yeah. When I was doing research for this episode, I found a song called Love is Verb, which funny enough. 

Yes. 

By John Mayer. And it really hit the nail on the head. It stresses that love is not just a feeling or a thing, but a deliberate action. Lyrics when you show me your love, I don't need your words. Implies love is not something to say, but something to demonstrate. With a repeated emphasis on show me. Rather than just talking about it, I love that. 

Yes. 

Now, I'm not saying that we. Ever tell our people that we love them, right? 

Right. 

In fact, telling someone you love them is important too, but it's equally important to back those words up with actions. 

It's kind of like the saying a picture is worth 1000 words, right? Yeah, yeah. So love is thrown at the. Love is thrown around so much in our culture today. We can say in one breath I love coffee or we can say I love my spouse or we can say I love Jesus. The meaning of the word can cover a broad range of things, from the essential to. 

Hmm. 

Mm. 

Yeah. 

Trivial. So how can we know what true love really is? Does it look like? What does it feel like? Does it even matter? 

Great point. I know we have a variety of listeners, everything from young and single. 

Yes. 

To retired couples who have been married for a really, really long time. 

Oh yeah. 

So how do we sum this up in a way that applies to everyone, regardless of their age, marital status or life situation? True love is more than a sensation and emotion or a feeling. Let's look at the bigger picture. First of all, regardless of your love life situation, you can rest in the fact that you. Are loved. 

John 316 is perhaps one of the most well known scriptures in the Bible. It says for God so loved the world that he gave his only son. That whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. So let's break this down a little bit to truly understand the depth of this. 

Yeah. Firstly it starts with for. So loved the world. Despite all of our flaws, mistakes and sins. 

Mm. 

God loves you and he loves me unconditionally. He loves each one of us. Regardless of who we are, what we have done, his love knows no boundaries. It extends to every single person in the world. 

Secondly, God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only son. God's love was not just about words or feelings. It was shown through action. He was willing to give up his son, who was without sin, to die on the cross for our sins. 

This act of selfless love is beyond our human understanding. Love this large requires sacrifice and is unconditional and all-encompassing. It is the kind of love that surpasses all other loves because it comes from God himself. 

Love is not just an emotion, but an action. Really is a verb. 

I told you. 

You. Yes, you must actively choose to show love toward others. 

This doesn't mean that you should avoid addressing issues or speaking the truth in love, but it does mean that you choose your words carefully and seek to reconcile rather than stirring up conflict. 

Mm. 

Love goes beyond our differences and flaws and covers our mistakes and shortcomings. 

It's all about motive. 

N. 

Love is powerful and can overcome the darkest of days. Or the most difficult of situations, this love reflects the unconditional love that God has for us. It was because of his great love for us that Jesus died for our sins. 

So here's the deal. Love has the power to heal and bring restoration. It allows you to forgive and overlook others mistakes, just as God has done for you as you go about your day. Remember to love one another deeply. Choose to forgive and extend grace to those who have wronged you. God's love is unconditional and we can extend that kind of love to the people in our lives. 

This applies to everyone this Valentine's Day. Whether you find yourself married, single or it's complicated. 

Mm. 

We can all show love to others because we are deeply loved. 

When we start looking outward and looking for ways to love and serve others. The love will be returned to us. 

Yes it will. 

Our hearts will be completely full of beautiful views. 

Yes. Thank you for joining us today. Our hope is always to inspire and encourage our listeners. So we hope that this episode encourage you to think about how you can actively love those around you. 

Yes, love is a verb. A verb is an action. So go out there and show someone some love this week. 

If you like what we do here at the Beautiful View Podcast, you can show your appreciation by becoming a supporting member for only $5.00 a month. We'll send you a Members only Beautiful View podcast sticker. 

Mm. 

And a weekly encouraging newsletter to your inbox. Your support helps cover our production costs. The link to sign up is in our show notes. 

Also, be sure to check out our new merch store. 

Yes. 

We're so excited about this and the link to that will also be in. 

Our show notes yes, and we're going to be adding more products over the next few weeks. 

Yes, yes. 

Keep an eye out for that. They're coming. 

Coming. 

And. Following on from that thought, we want to give this beanie right here. 

I. 

Woohoo. 

With that little logo design on the front, we want to give this to one of our listeners and we want it to go to someone who listens to the podcast. So this is the only place that you will hear about this offer. 

Mm. 

Mm. 

Yes. 

So to have a chance to win this beanie, go now to our Facebook or our Instagram feed. There you will see a post about the. Comment on that post that you love it. Then share it and we will enter your name into the drawing. That will happen at 8:00 PM on Valentine's Day. So we will notify the winner and we will give you a shout out on our next episode of the podcast. Yeah. As we conclude each podcast, we always like to give the topic that we will be discussing next time. 

Mm. 

So what will we be talking about? 

Well, as we mentioned earlier in this episode, we will be celebrating our 23rd wedding anniversary this. 

Yes, we will. 

Is kind of fun, fun. Become. February 23rd is our 23rd anniversary. We are calling this episode growing together. 

Marriage takes work. 

Yes it does. 

Oh, come on. 

In 23 years of marriage, we've been through a lot individually and as a couple in the next episode we're going to talk about some of the ways we have each changed. 

Yeah. 

And how we have continued to grow together as a married couple? Should be a good one. 

It. It'll be interesting. 

So you've heard about the guy? Who walks towards his wife on his wedding day. She watches him walk down the aisle. 

Mm. 

Arrive at her side, at the altar, and as they begin to sing the first hymn she goes. 

Hmm. 

How true. I'll alter him. 

Oh my, this is going to be really interesting. 

I got my own jokes. 

I. 

Oh, gosh. Thank you once again for joining us today. We hope you have a great day and remember to always look for opportunities in your life. To love on someone. 

Yes. 

To see a beautiful view, yes.