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There have been many songs written and sung about love. Love between man and woman. But it can be a fragile love. Not because love itself is fragile, but because we are.

Love, as we understand it, is based upon our feelings for each other. But that's not really love at all. Because love is not a feeling - it is an act of our will.

It is not easy to really love somebody because we have to make sacrifices to do that. Our natural tendency is not to tolerate the shortcomings of others - not to keep quite when our "loved ones" say or do something we don't like.

.....and that's where our will has to play a part.

To really love someone, we have to make our minds up that we will love them. Then, we won't be upset by anything that is said or done. We will make the sacrifice!

The Word of God says:
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

Love suffers long and is kind. When we love someone we are patient with their shortcomings and quick to reach out with kindness and help. How much more love God has shown to us by giving us His Son while we were still His enemies. (Romans 5:8)
Love does not envy. How often we jealously look at other people's possessions desiring what we haven't earned. And yet if we trust Jesus, He has said He will give us everything we need. (Phillipians 4:19)
Love does not parade itself, is not puffed up. Boasting, perhaps is something we are all guilty of. We try to impress others and pretend to be something we are not. But rich or poor, famous or unknown, God looks upon all people the same. (Acts 10:34,35)
(Love) does not behave rudely, does not seek its own. In our thoughtlessness and inconsideration we sometimes incite angry reactions over trivial incidents. Our own selfishness may even prevent us from making any apologies. But Jesus innocently suffered at the hands of selfish and wicked men and yet never responded with anything but love. (Luke 23:33,34)
(Love) is not provoked, thinks no evil, does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth. We fool ourselves when we imagine it is possible to show love when we conceal sin in our hearts. But we can rejoice in the truth that God will forgive our sins if we ask Him to. (1 John 1:8,9)
(Love) bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Even though trials and tribulations may come our way, we can overcome them when we know the love of God in Jesus. His love gives a sure and certain hope for the future. (2 Thessalonians 2:16,17)
Love never fails. Real love, God's love, never fails. Jesus' love is perfect love and has stood, and will stand the test of time. We can each receive that love. (Jeremiah 31:3)
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

What is love?

God is love.

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