You can often get locked in love and be unable to forgive your beloved or to bend or compromise your position. Hod introduces the aspect of humility in love; the ability to rise above yourself and forgive or give in to the one you love just for the sake of love even if you're convinced that you're right. Arrogant love is not love.
Does love humble me? Am I arrogant notwithstanding - or sometimes, because I have the capacity to love? Do I realize that the ability to love comes from a greater, higher place; from G‑d? And knowing that shouldn't I enter into any love with total humility, recognizing the great privilege of being able to love. Do I realize that through love I receive more than I give? Do I appreciate the one I love for this?
Exercise for the day: Swallow your pride and reconcile with a loved one you have quarreled with.
Thank you for recommending the love exercise. I obeyed days later and phoned someone who is forty-five hundred miles away. We had not spoken in 13 years and I had applied all the Gideon tactics,asking G-d to clarify it was His voice in your writing and in my heart.
He answered through the voice of a girl calling walls of pride to cease in:
"Make us instruments of your peace"
Today, the ex-"enemy" said she was surprised I called and prayed Hashem would bless me in every area of my life. So, all the pain in historical places was finally dug out of my heart. Equally true is that the sweaty hands, the multiple cups of tea/coffee and nipping to the loo to exhale fear before placing the call were all worth it. Now I wonder- what took me so long?