A certain man was always telling his neighbor how much he loved the children in the neighborhood. One day this man had a new sidewalk poured in front of his house. Before the cement had hardened, some of the neighborhood children ran through it and left their footprints.

The man became extremely angry. Venting to his neighbor, he exclaimed that the offending children should be punished for what they had done.

The neighbor reminded his friend how he often said that he loved children very much.

He replied, “I love children in the abstract—not in the concrete!”

Love is not merely an abstract concept. Real love is expressed in the good deeds that we perform for others.

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”—Matthew 5:16.