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So, let's consider this thing called love. 
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. Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:4)

So if the Bible gives us a clear cut, precise depiction of what love is, why do we, as humans, have such a difficult time defining and/or understanding it.  I, myself, fit right into this group of people.  Love is easy.....we make it hard.  With all of our morals, different experiences, and different views in general, this generation is more confused than ever about true, unconditional love.  We put up with behaviors that we normally wouldn't tolerate.....because we're "in love".  We suffer hurts that are, though fixable, indescribably painful.  Our judgment, when in love, is clouded.  We put all of our time and energy into a person, with little regards to ourselves.  In love.

I have my own descriptions of love.  I cannot say for sure if I have ever experienced true romantic love, but I know that I unconditionally love myself, my family, my friends, and my Savior.  My list of "true love" works in platonic and romantic situations.  True love encompasses you.....takes you on a journey that you never want to end.  True love does not hurt, make you sad, and is not depressing.  True love is truly a celebration.  It persists and is not afraid to scream at the top of the highest mountain that it exists.  When it is there.....you know.  It's like a feeling of floating.  Going through life in a dream....True love is happy, content, overwhelming, authentic.  With true love, there is no doubt.  There is no ridicule or degradation....only reverence and respect.  True love is......well, for lack of a better word....TRUE.

I can't help but wonder if true love is indeed reciprocated.  I mean can one truly experience TRUE love if it is not reciprocated?  It seems to me that TRUE love requires the warm feelings gained from GIVING and the joys of RECEIVING.  I have analyzed and even researched it (the biologist in me), cried about it, and finally, prayed about it (BINGO!)  Love is the most beautiful of dreams, and the worst of nightmares.  While it is extremely rewarding, it is ridiculously tedious.  Especially when you have given your heart to someone who you assume TRULY loved you as you them, and got hurt.  But it is conquerable!  One thing to remember, which is hard even for a smart woman like me, is that you cannot control one's actions in any relationship.  You can only be held accountable for YOU.  Y.O.U.  That's it.  You cannot prevent or avoid someone who would rather toy with your feelings than protect them.  These people are roadblocks.  People sent to misconstrue our perceptions about love.    People who will look back on the situation after it has dissipated and recall how good you once were.  And trust, they ALWAYS do. 

Experiencing true love is truly loving yourself.  Once you love yourself, it is much easier for someone else to love you.  Conditional love of oneself is a prerequisite for loving someone else AND for someone else loving you.  True love isn't impossible.  It's very possible.  But one must ensure that they, themself, are indeed ready for it.  Because once it's there, you have no time for last minute preparations.  When in doubt, look up.

Be blessed.
K. Rod.