By David Coy
Sunrise
We know that in grief and sorrow we hurt much because we have invested much love in the lives of others and they in ours. What we may not know is how vital love is in all our relationships. Further, we may not understand how we must renew, rebuild, and/or build new relationships. Dr. Orway Tead states, “More and more clearly every day out of biology, anthropology, sociology, history, economic analysis, psychological insight, plain human decency, and common sense, the NECESSARY MANDATE FOR SURVIVAL, that we show LOVE FOR OUR NEIGHBOR AS WE DO OURSELVES is being confirmed and reaffirmed.” To love and be loved should be understood to be the need for every human being. This is why there has been such an alarming and a dramatic increase in mental health issues and especially suicide in relation to mental health. Dr. Erich Fromm (noted psychoanalyst) acknowledges, “Psychology as a science has its limitations…the ultimate consequence of psychology is love.” He further says, “…indeed to speak of love is to speak of the ultimate and real need of every human being” (Art of Loving, p. 32). Dr. Karl Menninger in his work Love Against Hate says, “The central problem of the psychiatrist is how we can encourage love and diminish hate.” “It is axiomatic in modern therapy that love is man’s basic need” (Dr. Paul Southern).
Human nature and human needs have not changed one little bit over the centuries, nor has science technology, or all the philosophies of our world can come up with a better solution and never will. “But now faith, hope and love remain—these three. The greatest of these is Love” (1 Corinthians 13:13).
This is Sunrise Aftercare, sunrise@sfdcares.com.
