Love

A dear friend of mine told me that I should blog about love. The first thing that comes to mind when I think about love is 1 Corinthians 13:4-13. "Love is patient, love is kind..." Basically love is the greatest thing on this planet. We see love in relationships, sometimes between strangers, between parents and children, in marriage, and so much more. Love is amazing. In Christian views, love is the most important thing. God says to love Him, and to love your neighbor. Those are the two greatest commandments. I believe that every single person is loved. Some people might not feel like it, but there's always someone out there who loves you. In my life I know that the people of my church love and support me and I know that my family and friends love me. 

"Love does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud." You know that someone loves you when nothing stops them from making sure that you're happy. Like in Pride and Prejudice (my favorite movie ever) Mr. Darcy goes through so much trouble to make sure that Elizabeth's family is safe, because he knows that it's what will make her happy. He does it without telling anyone, because even if she has no idea that he's doing it he's still showing her how much he loves her. The end of that movie is, in my opinion, the most romantic scene in any movie. Ever. 

"Love is patient." When Odysseus went to sea, leaving his wife Penelope behind, she waited for his return. She resisted 108 suitors because she was still so in love with her husband. After 20 years, she still has a small amount of hope that her husband will return to her one day. Odysseus even resists a tempting sorceress who offers him everlasting love and eternal youth so he can go back and see his wife and son. This proves that true love is worth waiting for, and once you have found it that you should hold on to it.

"It always protects,always trusts, always hopes, always preserves. Love never fails." When Queen Victoria's uncle William IV died, she married her cousin Prince Albert. She fell deeply in love with him, and he with her. They reigned together and had nine children. When Albert died, Queen Victoria wore black and mourned her husband's death until the day she died. 

Love is found between people who are willing to give up their own needs for someone else. Lassie loved her owner so much, that she risked her life to save him. Lucy and Ethel were inseparable and always looked after each other. Bonnie and Clyde were criminals together. Romeo and Juliet died for each other. Jack died to make sure that Rose was going to live (even though there was enough room for both of them...). Love means self-sacrifice. Willing to go above and beyond for someone else. When it comes to relationships, don't settle for less than the best. You deserve someone who is constantly willing to make sure that you're happy. In friendship, it's a two way thing. If you constantly expect the other person to do everything, then it's eventually going to fail. Project love wherever you go. Seeing strangers in the grocery store, or in traffic, or whatever the case may be. Strive to love, because love will set you free.