When my brother-in-law, Kris, stopped by for a visit recently, he could barely contain his excitement. The reason? His new granddaughter, Eloise Elizabeth. With a huge grin and that unmistakable glow of a proud grandparent, he said, “Joey, I heard you talk about especially loving the grandkids, and now I understand. It’s such an incredible experience that I can’t describe it. I went down yesterday so I could have her all to myself! I didn’t know I could love even more.”
I couldn’t help but laugh at his joy. It was something I’d witnessed before and felt myself — that moment of revelation when you realize just how expansive your heart can be. Kris discovered a beautiful truth that many of us overlook or forget in our busy lives. Our capacity to love is endless.
A quote I read not long ago goes something like this: “Having a child is like watching your heart walk around outside of your body.” For anyone who’s held their child or grandchild for the first time, you know this sentiment hits home. Kids change you. They expand the love you feel in ways you didn’t even know were possible. And grandkids? Well, in my humble opinion (as a proud grandparent of eight with fingers crossed for nine), they blow the doors off your capacity to love. They multiply it.
But here’s the thing — we don’t have to wait for grandkids or significant life moments to realize the power of love. Opportunities to grow in love are all around us.
Whether we show patience to our kids after a long day, support our spouses in their passions and struggles, or simply offer kindness to someone who’s struggling, love doesn’t have limits. It stretches, deepens, and grows the more we use it. It’s as if loving others strengthens the fabric of who we are, making us more resilient, more fulfilled, and yes—even more loving.
Sometimes life makes us believe our hearts can only handle so much. That we’re maxed out, either by the demands of those we care for or by the weight of our struggles. But love? Love defies those limits. Love is what lifts us out of that place and reminds us of the incredible capacity we carry within us.
Whether it’s a friend, a neighbor or even better a stranger in need, with every act of love, we turn the ordinary into something extraordinary.
Today, I encourage you to take a moment to reflect. Think about your capacity to love. Who in your life could use a little more of it? Are there moments you’ve held back because you worried you were out of gas?
Here’s the truth Kris uncovered, and I’m inviting you to discover for yourself too — that when you love others, you grow. Your heart stretches, and life just seems to brim with greater joy and purpose.
Go ahead. Love. Pour it out freely. You’ll find it always comes back tenfold. And just maybe, you’ll experience the awe and wonder that Kris felt holding sweet little Eloise Elizabeth for the first time.
Your capacity for love is greater than you think. Never forget that.
If you want to be part of building something bigger than yourself, this book is a great place to start! Jon Gordon on Leading with Significance
Grab your copy of Leading with Significance to find more magnetic insights to help you on your unique journey.
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