What is love?

I have been thinking about love. What is love? No, I’m not talking about the song by Haddaway. I have several friends whose hearts have been broken because the person whom they “loved” broke up with them. I wonder if they really loved them or if they are just obsessed/infatuated with that person? So what is the difference between love and infatuation?

Love vs. Infatuation
•Love is back up by commitment and faithfulness, while infatuation is short-lived and fleeting.
•Love can and will work through all kinds of problems; infatuation throws in the towel.
•Love is grounded in reality. You know the person isn’t perfect, but you love him or her anyway. Infatuation is more like a fantasy; it overlooks all faults and puts its object on a pedestal.
•Love can let go; infatuation clings.
•Love builds up; infatuation sucks life away.

True Love
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a: 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 perseveres. Love never fails.

To my friends
You know who you are and I am not saying you didn’t really love that person because I was not involved in your relationship. You can choose to completely disagree with everything I have said in this note and that is fine with me. I just want you to know that I love you and care about you deeply. I hate to see you hurting and I wish I could take away your pain. I have been hurt, so I know where you are coming from; just know that you can talk to me anytime. I will always be here and I will always love you!

When I say 'I love you', it's not because I want you or because I can't have you. It has nothing to do with me. I love what you are, what you do, how you try. I've seen your kindness and your strength. I've seen the best and the worst of you. And I understand with perfect clarity exactly what you are.