What is love?: Why love for a child is a verb

Many parents think they love their children. Most parents in the United States don't love their children. Love is a commonly misunderstood concept in parenting. Objectively, in terms of morality, it is not merely affection, but an action towards children.

It says in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 KJV:

Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up. Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth. Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophesies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, they shall vanish away.

"Charity" in this context refers to love for children, which is denoted throughout the New Testament by the Greek root word αγαπαο (Latin: agapao) and refers to submission to your neighbor (Matt. 22:35-40), with children being your neighbor. This means putting children first, and yourself last - children first, parents last. Love means putting your needs on hold for somebody else, putting other people before yourself. It is putting other people first to the level of submission to their every need, as stated by them and not your determination. Such submission implies that the parent expect nothing in return for putting themselves last and their children and others first.

The restful place in which children end up in due to being treated with love is denoted in Colossians 3:20-21 KJV:

Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

The Greek root word translated "obey" is υπακουο (Latin: hupakouo) and refers to the restful place that coincides with a state of Christian love in parents, meaning parents submit to the needs of their children, and children rest, listening to parents and demanding their own needs. Parents used attachment parenting to bring up children in biblical times. Children up until adulthood were swaddled next to mothers in her swaddling clothes, with children being wrapped up and held close to mothers. Children up until age 3 were treated as infants behaviorally, and breastfed as such, with such infants resting solemnly next to mothers. Mothers embraced the concept of co-sleeping throughout biblical times, even in the Early Church. Fathers stood watch for the first couple years, then acted as spiritual encouragement for children. Scripture was imparted to children by way of loving, fun encouragement from fathers.

The Greek root word translated "provoke...to anger" is ερεθιζο (Latin: erethizo) and refers to provocations to anger. This is love for children stated in the negative, meaning the avoidance of any offense perceived by the children, meaning the slightest of personal slight perceived by the child. This commandment was intended by the Apostle Paul to prohibit all forms of punishment and control in parenting, meaning any punitive parenting, including corporal punishment. The Apostle Paul, here, was writing to Greek Christians who used the pagan custom of spanking children, rebuking them for provoking their children to anger, which was considered kidnapping under biblical law. 

Love is a state of being, not just a feeling you get sometimes. It is selflessness, meaning putting others first, and putting yourself last, as a prevailing attitude throughout life. This means love your children, putting children first, and adults last. Love is a convicted, disciplined state that affords your neighbor, including children, shelter and rest in the grace and mercy of Christian love. Love is not just a verb, but an attitude, meaning a selfless, convicted attitude towards your fellow man, including children, to the point of submission to your neighbor. Speak softly and quietly, or not at all, in a public venue. Don't joke and laugh while in a crowded restaurant or store. Show some decorum to appease the needs of your neighbor, perhaps avoiding disturbing children along the way. Let children run around and be free in the store and laugh freely in the restaurant, not disturbing them by reacting punitively, but modeling a brave face to them by being quiet and allowing them to develop in their behavior freely, like a shelter for their rambunctiousness and rebelliousness, with childhood rebellion being seen as reverent rebellion, listened to with righteous stoicism and listening in parents. Children should be allowed to be talkative, but with parents being instead stoic and calm in a listening-type way, being passive to their needs as determined by their wants. All benign wants are needs to a child, as they come from YOU.

The depraved and entitled parents will not inherit the Kingdom of God! Let them burn in the lake of fire and burning sulfur, which is the second death prepared for Satan and his accomplices! Let them descend into the abyss that is the Hell of fire and torment, with such parents enduring God's Wrath! Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!