Ephesians 5:1-2 “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.”

“It’s so easy to fall in love, it’s so easy to fall in love.” – Buddy Holly and Norman Petty

Famous singer/songwriter, Buddy Holly, along with Norman Petty penned these catchy lyrics, and in 1958 the rock and roll band The Crickets recorded the single. 

The sentiment of these lines is one many of us can appreciate. But while it may be easy initially to fall in love with the person of your dreams, walking in love on a long-term basis is a lot harder. This is because real love is not always easy. Most of the time it requires great sacrifice. 

Anyone who has ever fallen in love experiences a great wash of emotion. This song talks about the initial hormonal rush that produces giddy feelings of pleasure. As time passes these hormones stabilize and real life sets in. Many of your significant other’s habits that were “cute” before can become annoying. This is where the real test of true love begins. 

The Apostle Paul calls God’s children to be imitators of God and to walk in love, just as Christ has loved us. This genuine love prompted Jesus to lay down His life for us even when we were not very loveable. So, too, our love for others should be one of self-sacrifice. 

We are called to love not only those who generate pleasant feelings, but everyone around us – even those we would consider enemies. We need to set selfish purposes aside. We must think of others more highly than we think of ourselves. This may mean sacrificing time, money, preferences, and even our right to “be right.” It means always being kind, continually offering forgiveness, and patiently bearing with one another even on bad days. None of this is very easy!

Buddy Holly and the Crickets’ lyrics speak of an all-consuming emotion experienced by star-crossed lovers all over the world. For them “it’s so easy to fall in love” because their hearts are light and the relationship is new. But when God’s children imitate Jesus by displaying sacrificial love even when it’s difficult, we bring joy to our heavenly Father. Our attitudes and actions make Him smile. And that alone is worth the sacrifice.