Esther Silvius
Magazine and Feature Writing
Mr. Fred DeArmond
October 27, 1958
Ask a dozen average people “What is the greatest thing in the world?” and you would probably get six, eight or even twelve different answers.
Ask a blind person the same question and very likely, without hesitating, he would answer, sight; a deaf person, sound; the poor, riches; the homeless, homes; the orphan, parents. From these answers it would seem as if the greatest thing is merely that which we do not possess.
If six out of twelve persons gave you the same answer, I have no doubt but that it would be love. The greatest thing in the world then cannot be something which we do not possess because we all have love. To have love means that either we are the recipient or the giver. I cannot believe that anyone ever lived who was not himself loved, or at some time in his life he loved someone or something.
Just giving the single word love as the answer to this question is really no answer because each person’s interpretation of the meaning is different. Love is giving, not taking. Love in its highest interpretation is giving of oneself.
When I think of love, I think of husband, children, home, friends, church and country, but not necessarily in that order. The love I feel for each of these persons or things is expressed in different ways, no two of which are alike. The love I have for my husband is both romantic and married love. The love for my children is parental love; love of home Is a possessive love because it is mine. Friends I love because I need them, is that selfish love?
Love is one of the basic emotions and as such is a motivating force in our lives. Love of life is one of the strongest of loves. Would not the rich man rather have his life than all his wealth? Would not man give up his arms, his legs, his hearing and even sight just to remain alive? I think so.
Had I the talent I could write volumes on love and its many definitions but the most complete description of love is in the Bible and I quote from the first chapter of Corinthians, fourth verse: “Love suffereth long, and is kind; love envieth not; Love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not its own, is not provoked, taketh not account of evil; rejoiceth not in unrighteousness, but rejoiceth with the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endoureth all things ... But now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; and the greatest of these is love.”
The greatest thing in the world is love and the greatest love of all is God’s love for humanity for the Bible so states: “That God so loved the world that whomsoever would believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.”
The New Testament definition of God is: “God is Love.” Therefore if God is Love, Love is God and love has to be the greatest of all things.
Teacher’s comment: Well done. Any criticism would be hair-splitting. - DeA