Define LOVE?

When I think of LOVE ... I always remember 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 with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always persevere.

When you feel the love, whether it is platonic or otherwise, it is easy to be patient and it is easy to be kind. These virtues vary by the type of relationship, at least in my own opinion. My patience is such a short_span_exercise on other things.

While if and when I love, I don't know how I master to be patient because I don't think I have an ounce of patience in me. I really have to be pushed to oblivion before I send him to the doghouse.

Kindness, for me, is the easiest trait to obtain. When I see someone crying, I can't help but to cry, as my heart easily emphatizes. When I am in love, kindness overflows my cup. I have the tendencies to manuever kindness in every possible angle in the relationship. If I have to do ala Leonardo & Kate_ Titanic moment, you betcha, I'd do it before you can blink your eyes. Kindness comes in closer in the territory of love!

In a literal word, love does not envy, but perhaps very hard not to, especially if you desire your relationship to become better. When I see couple who are in their ripe age, and are still holding hands, passionately glancing at each other like two love-struck teenagers, it is hypocritical of me not to admit that, that very moment, I am envous of the kind of love they've shared. Boasting and being proud on the other hand, sounds so negative but yet it can mean a positive thing when you are in love. How can you not share something to others when they mean so much to you? Remember when you are first smitten by someone? You can never stop talking about them. You share it even when it does not warrant to be shared. I think, let me reiterate this --- this next statement is just my opinion! Shades of boasting and being proud is acceptable, for as long as they are supported.

"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." <--- this, I truly have to agree 100%. How can you be rude, self-seeking, and easily angered when your heart is filled with love?

What I love the most on these verses are these little statement --- "LOVE, it always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always persevere". As little as these statement may sound, it resonate to a huge debate. LOVE should always protect, always trust, always hopes and always persevere. When someone say they love you, but yet they do not protect your heart, and they continue to profess their love, but yet they do not trust you, what kind of love is that? To love someone, trust is a pre-requisite! Giving your love means giving your trust. It is not a business proposal where you can use the adage of "trust is something you earn". By trusting, you impart protection to the relationship. By having trust, you hope that someone loves you enough to not hurt or betray you ... and when that person hurts you, you can hope that the love you have will persevere.

If these things do not exist, then define what LOVE IS!