My criminal justice teacher said something very though provoking today: profound questions like this one have no right or wrong anwsers. They are essential to learning and advancement, though, because --like for this one, "what is love?"-- each person has a differant definition; A differant set of criteria -all based on differant beliefs and difft. experiences.

It really got me thinking...I OBVIOUSLY have no clue when it comes to love, or even intimate relationships for that matter. I always choose people (even in friendships) who want to use or betray me. So I have a lot of learning to do.

Nonetheless here's my theory:

Love is absolute trust. It is knowing you can depend on someone in any situation-- knowing without a shadow of a doubt that they will be there for you, even if they do not like the situation, to support you.
Love is affection. It is finding your hand entangled in theirs and not even remembering putting your hand there. It is frequent kisses and hugs and cuddling. It is being in the same room because the person's presence sooths you. It is passion. It is trying to make your partner feel good and feel good about themselves. It is enjoyment in pleasantly surprising your partner and enjoyment for their happiness.
Love is sincerity-truly wanting to know the status of your partner and know their thoughts and life experiences. It is truly taking joy in their successes and truly taking sorrow in their sadness. It is a feeling of wanting to protect them from all that would try to hurt them.

--------------------------------------------------
--me: 24 full time student- SHSU for BS- Criminal Justice
--him:26, AD USAF SSgt (might be a tech now)
married: 5/29/99
seperated: 8/20-something/02
--He was heavily into internet porn and trading his nude pix for other women's and secretly calling them.
--Calling stopped after several huge fights 1yr
into marriage. Rest he tried to hide-I found it
--DDay1: 10/00 he was sent for cross training
(for 6mo, 8hrs from home) and REFUSED to let me
go with him
--DDay2: end 7/02-8/02 he was spending in excess of 9hrs+ on internet talking to women and having them mail him at work so I couldn't see. Tried to arrange 3 sexual meetings with MUCH older women. Dissappeared one night-said he went to city 4hrs away. I saw him arragne sex meet with woman in that town online, though he denied it. Saw him make plans to meet another woman the following weekend while I'd be at work. I said MC or divorce. He played like he didn't want divorce for awhile, then said he did b/c things would never change.

1 Cor. 13: 4-7 "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 in the truth. It ALWAYS protects, ALWAYS trusts, ALWAYS hopes, ALWAYS perseveres."

Love is a man named Robert McQuilkin, whose wife Muriel got Alzheimers, and he finally quit his high-profile job as a college President to become her full-time caretaker. He finally decided upon it after he would remove her shoes at night and find bloody feet because she had walked after him to his work site to be with him.

Love is Christopher Reeve's wife who has never left him despite his paralysis. Nor has she ever shown bitterness, resentment, or anything less than a strong love and positive attitude.

Love is the father who forgave the Prodigal Son after he left-- the father who ran to his son, put his best robes on him, asked him no questions, and prepared a feast and celebration for him, even though he'd squandered his inheritance and ate with pigs.

Love is Jesus who willingly hung on a cross for our sakes, the very people who hated, and still hate, him.

Love is not a feeling. There are feelings that accompany love, but love is not a feeling. It is an action... it is commitment... it is forgiveness... it is the willingness to suffer loss for another person...it is humble and sincere. Love is willing to look "foolish" to the rest of the world because of what it chooses.

Affection that with time turns into Admiration.