True Love

What is Love? This is the question always puffing in my mind.

In this world today many people think of it as a mere physical attraction and they casually speak of 'falling in love' and 'love at first sight'. True love is not wrapped in such flimsy material. One might become immediately
attracted to another individual, but love is far more than physical attraction. It is deep, inclusive and comprehensive. Physical attraction is only one of the many elements, but there must be faith and confidence and understanding and partnership. Love is cleanliness and progress and sacrifice and selflessness. This is the kind of love that never tires nor wanes, but lives through sickness and sorrow, poverty and privation, accomplishment and disappointment, time and eternity.

Love cannot be forced...It comes out of heaven, unasked and unsought. True love is not so much a matter of well being of one's companion.

True love is a process. True love requires personal action. Love must be continuing to be real. Love takes time. Real love does take time. The Great Shepherd had the same thoughts in mind when he taught, 'If ye love me, keep my commandments' (John 14:15) and 'If ye love me feed my sheep' (John 21:16). Love demands action if it is to be continuing. Love is a process. Love is not a declaration. Love is not an announcement. Love is not a passing fancy. Love is not an expediency. Love is not a convenience. 'If ye love me, keep my commandments' and 'If ye love me feed my sheep' are God-given proclamations that should remind us we can often best show our love through the processes of feeding and keeping.

Love of God takes time. Love of family takes time. Love of country takes time. Love of neighbor takes time. Love of companion takes time. Love in courtship takes time. Love of self takes time.

Love, as defined by the Lord, elevates, protects, respects and enriches another. It motivates one to make sacrifices for another. Be quick to say 'I'm sorry.' As hard as it is to form the words, be swift to say, 'I apologize, and please forgive me,' even though you are not the one who is totally at fault. True love developed by those who are willing to readily admit personal mistakes and offenses.

In addition, Love is patient, long-suffering, kind, free from envy and unselfish.