Love - a definition

It's been a hobby of mine for the longest time to try and define love. When is someone in love? It is most certainly not when you think a guy or gal is "hot". Nor is it when you get butterflies in your stomach or you feel like you can't breathe when you are around that special someone - that is just hormones. It's not when you can't get them out of your head and you think your heart will just explode when they are near. All of that is transitive, it is temporary and ethereal.

I believe that love is something that never fades away. Love is something etched into your soul - it is an action, a way of being. I was probably subconciously affected by my religion, but I believe that love is something that Christ showed the Church. I don't remember reading about butterflies in his stomach or about him having trouble breathing. Instead, he loved the Church through edification and rebuke. Finally, he loved the Church through death.

For me, Love is a commitment. Love says that no matter where you are, when you are, and who you are with, you will give your life for them at a moments notice. It is not conditional. Jesus didn't give his life only when his church loved him. In fact, Jesus gave his life precisiouly because his people hated him. Love is unconditional, unending, and uncompromising. Take this test. How many people, right now, would you give your life for? Even if they hated you? Even if they tried to kill you? If you would still give your life for them, you Love them.

As I'm sure you know, there are different forms of Love. The type I describe above is the strongest, deepest form of love. It is usually reserved for your children and your soul mate(s). I don't believe a child will ever feel for his/her parent what the parent feels for the child. I have had the priveledge of Loving two people in my life. I will always Love them because Love is timeless. I knew them both in High School and they both helped me through a very difficult phase of my life. One, I married, the other I will always remember and be thankful for. To both of you, I Love You.

I hope you enjoyed my definition of Love. At the very least, I hope it made you question your own. Leave me some comments and let me know what you think.