Love has been defined so many times, in so many ways… that sometimes the real meaning kind of gets lost among the myriad of definitions, and gets confusing after a while. For me, love may be complicated, but really, when you think about it, it really is just simple actually. For me, love is…

• The certain warmth I feel every time I think of him
• The yearning, and the way I miss him when we’re not together
• The butterflies in my stomach when I know I’m about to see him
• The nervousness I get when I know he’s coming over to see me
• The sudden jumping of my heart every time I see him
• The contentment I feel every time he sweeps me in his arms for a hug
• The sparks and the melting feeling I get every time we kiss
• The excitement that surges through me when I hear his voice over the phone
• The feeling that I just can’t get enough of him
• The smile that crosses my face every time I remember our moments together
• Being comfortable around him, like knowing when to be silly and when to be serious
• Knowing he’s the first person I think of when I wake up in the morning and the last one I think of before going to sleep at night
• Being able to show him who I truly am, just because I know that he’ll accept me for who I am
• Being able to acknowledge that he’s not perfect, but always seeing the good things in him
• Knowing that there are lots of guys out there, but believing that no one else compares to him
• Watching him sleep and just memorizing each line and curve of his face
• Fighting with him, then regretting it afterwards, saying sorry, and then making up
• When I’ve got good news, he’s the first person I think of and the first person I want to share it with
• Being open and honest in the relationship, knowing I can trust him to do the same with me
• Believing in him, having faith in him, and being proud of him
• Missing him even just after a few minutes that we’re apart
• Learning to trust completely, even though sometimes it could be difficult
• Learning to accept him for who he is, without question, without judgment
• Bringing out the best in each other and growing in love together
• Wanting to spend forever getting to know him and caring for him
• Wanting to be with him and share the rest of my life with him
• Not being able to imagine my life without him in it

I guess this is what true love really means… finding that one person you can give your heart to, and loving him unconditionally… no matter what.

Copyright©2008angel

“Love is always patient and kind; it is never jealous, love is never boastful or conceited; it is never rude or selfish; it does not take offense, and is not resentful. Love takes no pleasure in other people’s sins but delights in the truth; it is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope, and to endure whatever comes. Love never ends. Love never fails.”

God has a way of allowing us to be in the right place at the right time.

I was walking down a dimly lit street late one evening when I heard muffled screams coming from behind a clump of bushes. Alarmed, I slowed down to listen, and panicked when I realized that what I was hearing were the unmistakable sounds of a struggle: heavy grunting, frantic scuffling, and tearing of fabric. Only yards from where I stood, a woman was being attacked.

Should I get involved? I was frightened for my own safety, and cursed myself for having suddenly decided to take a new route home that night. What if I became another statistic? Shouldn’t I just run to the nearest phone and call the police?

Although it seemed an eternity, the deliberations in my head had taken only seconds, but already the girl’s cries were growing weaker. I knew I had to act fast. How could I walk away from this? No, I finally resolved, I could not turn my back on the fate of this unknown woman, even if it meant risking my own life.

I am not a brave man, nor am I athletic. I don’t know where I found the moral courage and physical strength—but once I had finally resolved to help the girl, I became strangely transformed. I ran behind the bushes and pulled the assailant off the woman. Grappling, we fell to the ground, where we wrestled for a few minutes until the attacker jumped up and escaped.

Panting hard, I scrambled upright and approached the girl, who was crouched behind a tree, sobbing. In the darkness, I could barely see her outline, but I could certainly sense her trembling shock. Not wanting to frighten her further, I at first spoke to her from a distance.

“It’s OK,” I said soothingly. “The man ran away. You’re safe now.” There was a long pause and then I heard the words, uttered in wonder, in amazement.

“Dad, is that you?” And then, from behind the tree, stepped my youngest daughter, Katherine.