Love is so much more than just a wonderful, delightful, and intoxicating feeling that it produces in “us”.

Love is something that MUST be demonstrated.

Love will always have the best interest of others in mind. Even when it hurts.

And oh, how it can hurt at times to love and do what is best for others.

"No greater love has a person, than when they lay down their life for a friend."

It really is like a death.

Yet, something within me wants to take this love to a new level.

I want to love this way. I want to demonstrate this love like never before.

My only fear and hesitation is hoping that the one I love will sense this love, feel this love, and receive this love. But I will concede that genuine love would not require or ask this in return.

I suppose this is where faith comes into play. Believing that they will sense this love. That it will reside deep within them...something they can carry with them forever.

Because true love…endures.

Hi Lighthouse,

Another good post thank you.

People talk a lot about this subject it seems. 'Love is a verb' is often said. I think you are completely right in saying that real love is " something that MUST be demonstrated. Love will always have the best interest of others in mind. Even when it hurts. "

I know this is true, yet like you suggest I don't find expressing this true love to be easy. It seems so much more natural for me to focus on the 'feelings' and let those feelings drive me to seek what would be, if I am honest, really most benefical for me. Kind of 'get what I need out of it' thinking. Not necessarily putting the person you love first. When I start doing that I actually worry that my love is not worth much - if I can't do what is best for the other person.

But man, is it a endless circle of work. And I agree, it hurts a great deal. Especially when the emotional pain causes a physical ache in your chest.

Well, thanks for posting this. As always I appreciate what you toss out here. Just wanted to jump in a agree with you on all the points.

Hope all is well with you, have a good day, and stay tied down if it is windy where you are. It sure is here!

Dawnn

P.S. I forgot to add: I want to encourage you that it seems to me that if you are successful in demonstrating this 'true love'. The other person can't help but sense it. Even if you are doing what is 'best.' though it might not 'feel' like the best.

Also, I read in a book on parenting that you can't look at your failures that occur once in awhile, rather you should ask yourself - what am I characterized by? Looking at the bigger picture and seeing if you are moving in the right direction. Because we all fail as humans don't we? I think this relates to your thoughts on loving - truely someone else. Now of course not focusing on my failures has always been a problem for me. So I am working on that too. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" />

Anyway, I know it is easy for us to to question these things - i.e. 'does the other person know that I do what I do out of the deepest love?' But I think that maybe this is the magic of love, that somehow it is made clear on the other end. Received and understood. Enduring. At least that is where MY faith puts it. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />

<small>[ April 18, 2004, 01:07 PM: Message edited by: Dawnn ]</small>

Well Dawnn....I'm not sure what all is going on in your part of the world, besides the wind...LOL...but you do seem to have a grasp of where I am coming from. Especially the 'pain in the chest' thing. Man...that just hit a chord with me. In fact several times today I've had to rub mine just to ease the pain of it. Ironic you mention that.

Heard a good sermon on this today in fact in church. The pastor really seemed to touch on this very thing and made a lot of sense. He seemed to preach from his heart and I so appreciated it. I was glad he reminded us, me in particular, that it takes time to develop this kind of love. But he was quick to admit that the feelings can run deep and be rather influential. Man...do I know something about that.

Thanks for your comments though. I appreciate them.