Real Love

I've never been one known for his bravery or boldness. On the exterior, I pale in personality and passion when compared to most. But where charisma's superficial facade fades, my character pervades. Where other's ardor cools and apathy sets in, my passion still burns deep within. When life is too difficult, too painful, or too inconvenient, I'll stand in boldly and endure. Where others break and turn back in tears, I'll be picking up the pieces and pressing on ahead.

For what I see ahead is love. But not the love you know. Not the kind of love most people sing about or force feed to us in the movies. Because true love doesn't move out when things get challenging. It doesn't get bitter when offended. It doesn't separate when that's the easier, more convenient thing to do. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. It doesn't choose when or who to be loving to. It doesn't test. It doesn't play games. It doesn't give up. It doesn't blame. It builds. It binds. It knows no bounds. It's unconditional. Love loves, not expecting anything in return.

It being that way, real love is painful in the reality of our world. It doesn't seek attention or control, but is willing to endure in pain, suffer without complaint, and sacrifice itself just to simply tell you that you are love.

You are loved. Although you may not know it, I fight for you, I endure for you, and I and others give our all in hopes that you may know that. I pray that that truth sinks in deeply, down into heart and into your soul. I pray that that lights a new fire within and emboldens you to love, that it redefines your outlook and your life, that you become not self-seeking, but self-sacrificing, and that you show everybody what real love is.