Love Never Ends

When I went shopping yesterday for light bulbs, I was shocked to see Valentine cards and gifts on display. I still have Christmas memories fresh in my mind. How can anyone be thinking about Valentine's Day so soon?

However, the stores succeeded in brainwashing me. When I drove back home after buying my light bulbs, I started thinking about the true meaning of love, as outlined in the Bible, compared to the worldly meaning of love.

This is God's perfect and beautiful definition of love:

"Love is patient,

And kind;

Love does not envy

Or boast;

It is not arrogant.

Or rude.

It is not insist on its own way;

It is not irritable

Or resentful;

It does not rejoice in wrongdoing,

But rejoices with the truth.

Love bears all things,

Believes all things,

Hopes all things,

Endure all things.

Love never ends."

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

As far as the world's definition of love goes — let's just say it's the complete opposite of God's definition.

I then thought about how I would define love:

• Love is when you think about the person throughout the day even when the two of you are not together. You wonder what he/she is doing at the moment or what he/she is thinking.
• Love is when excitement rises in your soul when the person comes through your front door or calls you on the phone.
• Love is when you don't notice anybody in a large crowd except the person you are in love with.
• Love is when you are more excited to buy a gift for the person than to spend money on yourself.
• Love is when you surprise the person with a gift that was made especially for him/her or bought thoughtfully with the person in mind.
• Love is when you are deeply sorry after realizing that you have hurt the person you love; you can't bear the thought of the person in emotional pain.
• Love is when you can suddenly write poetry or a long letter even though words have never before come easy for you.
• Love is when you don't feel complete without the other person by your side. You feel lost and saddened without the other person's near presence.
• Love never forgets the first holding of hands or the first kiss. Those intimate moments can never be wiped from your memory.
• Love is when you hold each other, and never want to let go.
• Love touches your heart, heals your past hurts, and brings down a part of heaven to your imperfect world.
• Love is pure joy.
• Love is forever! Loss, death, or even divorce can never destroy the love you have for someone. You may try to forget it, bury it, deny it, or replace it, but love is permanent, forever etched in the recesses of your heart. You can love another, but one doesn't erase the other. The more people you allow yourself to romantically love, the less of your heart you have to give.
• Love is a gift from God! Cherish it!