What is Love?

Love is something all living creatures need to survive. Why, you might ask? This is one of life’s great mysteries. While an attempt to describe love most often falls short of even history’s greatest authors, some of the most important aspects of love are forgiveness, trust, and patience.

Love is forgiveness. Growing up, when I made mistakes that I expected my parents would be upset about, I always knew that no matter how upset they might be, they would still love me. One time during pre-school, I skipped class and hide in the bathroom. I decided to take apart the soap dispenser and play slip-in-slide in the soap up and down the floor until I was discovered by a teacher. As I sat covered in soap waiting for my mom to come get me, I imagined all of her possible reactions. To my surprise, my mom simply laughed when she saw me and the mess I had made in the bathroom. I remember this so clearly because I believe this was the moment I first understood that although I had made a very large mistake, my mom would forgive and love me anyway.

Love is trust. When you allow another person into your heart and place your trust into another person’s hands, you are granting that person power. The power to love you back or the power to reject your love. Letting go of this power and trusting another is one of loves greatest challenges, yet something we often feel we cannot control. We can't help who we love or so it has been said. Whether we are choosing a future spouse, a best friend, or holding a new born baby, trust is a fundamental element in every relationship. Granting and receiving trust make love possible.

Love is patience. I believe that anything worth having takes time. When I think of patience, I often think of my grandmother. She is in no hurry to get anywhere or to get anything done. She simply goes through her life at her own pace doing the same tasks daily. At 83 years old, she has lived through the Great Depression, has lost a daughter and her husband, and is still the feistiest person I know. She has taught me many life lessons, but the one I hold closest to my heart is how to be patient with a person and with a relationship. She shares the adventures of her life and I have learned to sit patiently and listen. I cannot imagine loving her more or wanting to rush through any time I am able to share with her. For this reason, I hold patience as love.

There is no description that can be made with words to describe love. We are left simply to describe situations, events, or ideas that our simple minds can comprehend. To me, love truly is forgiveness, trust, and patience. These characteristics are traits that I use in an attempt to explain what love is to me. Truth is, love is immeasurable and impossible to define.