My Outlandish Definition Of Love

Ruelha,

This is my comprehension of love: Love is a decision; love is a commitment. Love is a decision to stay committed. Love is unconditional, eternal {everlasting} and infinite {immeasurable}. Let me elaborate with an example. I find parental love to be the epitome of true love. Of course, there are exceptions. From the time a mother holds her newborn until she closes her eyes, there will always be love in her heart for her child. Kids can be so difficult to deal with. Yes, parents may scold, yell, be disappointed, wonder what a big mistake they created and so forth. But those are just feelings. Feelings are fleeting. I tell you solemnly, they never last. Feelings are the most unreliable things. I am very blessed. I had parents whose love was never questionable. I knew love was assured, no matter what I did/happened. If I had to commit a heinous crime such as murder, they would condemn the act. They would reprimand me, definitely not shield me from punishment and the law. But, as much as it would tear their souls’ asunder, they would still love me. ‘Condemn the sin; love the sinner.’ Many families deal with children having addictions. I am sure you can imagine the tolerance, patience, distress and despondency the parents continue to languish in. Yet, deep down they have something that wants to restore that child to perfect health and well-being. It is not sympathy or mere concern. It is commitment. It is a very conscious decision. They plunge through agonizing ordeals and tribulations in loving anticipation with a hope of resuscitation.

Love is not a feeling

 I know of many people who think love is just ‘a feeling’. But feelings are never the same. Today I feel like devouring some Thai food; tomorrow I’ll have a hankering for Sushi. Today I can be absolutely smitten; tomorrow I may resent your very presence. But If I were committed, I’d work through the resentment to ensure I’m doing my bit in the equation to maintain that structure of the relationship. Feelings are easily manipulated by attraction, lust, attention, jealousy, pride, self esteem etc. But, at the end no relationship will ever last unless there is genuine love – a conscious decision to stay committed to that relationship.

Love conquers All

Love involves sacrifice and careful consideration of the others’ needs before yours. Again, let’s go back to the epitome of love – parents. They sacrifice everything because they are so committed to the well being, health, safety and happiness of their children that their personal desires fade away into the shadows of irrelevance. I am not in some delusional euphoria claiming love is impeccably immaculate. It is quite the opposite. But it certainly conquers almost everything, every time.

  • Love is patient; love is kind.

St. Paul gives us a beautiful description of love in the scriptures. He tells the Corinthians, “Love is patient; love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” -1 Corinthians 13:4-8. I find this to be the most comprehensive interpretation of love. Each word has such profound connotation if you digest every word as you read.

Love keeps no records of wrongs

This topic is so vast; I will need to split it up in attempt to do justice. For now, I will bid adieu with just a definition, my definition of ‘love’.

With Love,

Ruelha

35 Comments

  2. There are degrees here. There is love of a parent, love of a sibling, love of a friend, love of something, love for someone, marital love, etc., And then there is unconditional love. And that is not from any of the above mentioned. There is agape love. The highest form of love where every other kind of love fails. And that is the love of God. And some of us experience much of this through the love of our parents. However, it’s not perfect. Because none of us is perfect. Only one is perfect and He is God. Abba. St. Paul encourages us to walk in this love as much as we can. He so beautifully described true love. However, true love as described by him can only be achieved on the cross. And True Love (Jesus) paid that price. God bless all of us who strive to walk in love but fail and rise up again and fail,,,and rise up again

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    1. Hey Lloyd 🙂
      I completely agree there are different types of love…agape, romantic, self love, platonic love. I really want to cover ‘ agape love’ in another post….such a beautiful topic 🙂 . Agape is the purest form of love. I still believe all forms of love require commitment and are a conscious decision, including self love. Agape, I agree is the true model of love perfected by the paragon of love Himself 🙂 whom parents try to imitate. It’s not perfect; it can never be. Human brings aren’t impeccable. I feel it is the attempt to emulate this perfect form of love that makes love so beautiful….the effort 🙂 🙂 🙂

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    2. Hey Lloyd….I just remembered few scriptures that you’ll love as much as I do…

      God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 1 John 4:16

      We love because He first
      loved us. -1 John 4:19

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    3. Dear Ruelha,
      Beautifully expressed..
      To know about love in such depth means you are very very close to God. And also practised this virtue.
      God bless you dear Ruelha and may you continue to be His instrument of love and mercy.

      God bless you
      May the Holy Spirit continue to inspire and enlighten you in all your works.
      Praise the Lord and bless His holy Name Amen.

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  8. i did find something to you rather intriguing since the first day, when i stumbled upon this blog of yours. you seem rather well versed in many aspects of life; be it cooking or nurturing relationships. there’s a lot to you, that i find just beautiful. maybe someday, I’d be able to write a few words for you. i wish you all the happiness.

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    1. Wow, that is such a beautiful compliment. It is definitely one of the best comments I have received on my blog. Made my week 🙂
      Truth be told, I ain’t great at nurturing relationships….I learned through mistakes, some of which were very grave….but the good Lord has been so patient with my slow-learning skills.
      Wow….thank you Srijan…
      I wish you happiness and peace too. Stay blessed 🙂

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      1. well, we all have our own path where we walk on. and i really don’t think, i’ve read or felt for that matter. there’s something to you and your love, that just feels really beautiful, no matter what you may have gone through. you turned out exquisite, ruelha. and i already may have written something for you. i’ll be waiting to read more to you. you too. 🙂

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        1. Oh yes….absolutely….I meant….its a two way street….but keyword being God…..the greatest in the chord of 3 ……not easily broken🙏🏼✝️🙏🏼
          To Jesus be all the glory and honour forever and ever🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

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          1. AMEN, SISTER! SINCE YOU ARE ALREADY ROYALTY, BEINGA DAUGHTER OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER AND COHEIR WITH OUR LORD JESUS, I WILL BE CONTENT BEING YOUR OLDER BROTHER IN CHRIST—ALTHO’ IF I could have a child like you, I surely would be willing!

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