Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, 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 preserves. I Corinthians 13:4-7
Regardless whether or not you believe in the Bible, I’m sure we can all agree that this passage rings true. We all long for this in our lives, to be truly loved. There are so many examples of love in society, how do we know which is real?
“Love is what bwings us togethar today” (The Princess Bride).
In the wisdom of The Princess Bride, “Love is what bwings us togethar today”. Love draws us together, builds us up, encourages, and rejoices in our accomplishments. Love challenges us to grow, to step out beyond our comfort zone into a place where we can soar. Love is about encouraging someone to be all that we know they can.
At times this won’t be comfortable, sometimes even painful, being pushed outside of our comfort zones. Stretched and pulled into places we didn’t plan on going.
However, true love will only encourage you out of your comfort zone for your benefit, never theirs. It will never go against your beliefs, or what you stand for. It will always build you up, never bring you down. True love will enhance you, not hide who you are.
True love will never force you to do something, never threaten to leave if you don’t do what they want. They may stay this time, but what about the next? How far are you willing to go, willing to deny yourself? I’ve seen it happen time and again where friends start losing who they are for the sake of ‘love’.
So find a love that will find you, grow you, enhance you, not one that will hide you, force you, or cause you to lose yourself.