Meaning of love

Lately I have been pondering the word LOVE. The people of this generation throw it around as a child would a rubber ball. In one breath they love their significant other and the next they love football or shopping. I do not know how you feel about this. Like me, maybe it was a habit picked up by listening to the television or radio. Alternatively, maybe even by the people that surround you each day.

After my ex husband asked me for a divorce I started noticing the word love and how we in society use it. Since I am a Christian, I read articles and studied what the Bibles’ meaning of love is. I realized that my ex had not loved me in a while. That was a tremendous blow since I had put my all in being a loving wife to him and a loving mother to our children. When someone loves you, people do not toss you to the curb after being together for over 20 years or any amount of time for that matter. In the time since that day, the meaning of that powerful word love has a different meaning to me.  I sense in my spirit the awesomeness of that word, the meaning behind it and the emotions that go with it. The depth and emotion will be different depending on whom I may be saying it to but I will not say it unless I do have the feelings that go along with it. I want the best for those I love and I want to give my best to them. I care about the person I utter those words to and will prove it to them. In the Greek language, there are four words for the word love… The following comes from Wikipedia….

§                    Agápe (ἀγάπη agape ^[1]) means "love" (unconditional love) in modern day Greek, such as in the term s'agapo (Σ'αγαπώ), which means, "I love you". In Ancient Greek, it often refers to a general affection or deeper sense of "true love" rather than the attraction suggested by "eros". Agape is used in the biblical passage known as the "love chapter", 1 Corinthians 13, and is described there and throughout the New Testament as sacrificial love. Agape is also used in ancient texts to denote feelings for one's children and the feelings for a spouse, and it was also used to refer to a love feast. It can also be described as the feeling of being content or holding one in high regard. Agape was appropriated by Christians for use to express the unconditional love of God.^{[citation needed]}Before agape love there was no other word to express such great love.^{[citation needed]}

§                    Eros (ἔρως érōs^[2]) is passionate love, with sensual desire and longing. The Modern Greek word "erotas" means "intimate love;" however, eros does not have to be sexual in nature. Eros can be interpreted as a love for someone whom you love more than the philia, love of friendship. It can also apply to dating relationships as well as marriage. Plato refined his own definition: Although eros is initially felt for a person, with contemplation it becomes an appreciation of the beauty within that person, or even becomes appreciation of beauty itself. Plato does not talk of physical attraction as a necessary part of love, hence the use of the word platonic to mean, "without physical attraction." In the Symposium, the most famous ancient work on the subject, Plato has the middle-aged Athenian philosopher, Socrates argue to aristocratic intellectuals and a young male acolyte in sexual pursuit of him, that eros helps the soul recall knowledge of beauty, and contributes to an understanding of spiritual truth, the ideal "Form" of youthful beauty that leads us humans to feel erotic desire -- thus suggesting that even that sensually-based love aspires to the non-corporeal, spiritual plane of existence; that is, finding its truth, just like finding any truth, leads to transcendence. Lovers and philosophers are all inspired to seek truth through the means of eros."

§                    Philia (φιλία philía^[3]) means friendship or affectionate love in modern Greek. It is a dispassionate virtuous love, a concept developed by Aristotle. It includes loyalty to friends, family, and community, and requires virtue, equality and familiarity. In ancient texts, philos denoted a general type of love, used for love between family, between friends, a desire or enjoyment of an activity, as well as between lovers.

§                    Storge (στοργή storgē^[4]) means "affection" in ancient and modern Greek. It is natural affection, like that felt by parents for offspring. Rarely used in ancient works, and then almost exclusively as a descriptor of relationships within the family. It is also known to express mere acceptance or putting up with situations, as in "loving" the tyrant.

I remember learning about these types of love in Sunday school. It was interesting to me that we use one word to describe all of these loves. The amazing thing is they all refer to the emotion someone has toward another human.

How can I in good conscious love my chocolate brownie Sundae and in the next breath love you? I like chocolate brownie sundaes. If I had to make a menu for my last meal, I am sure I would be savoring one of those tasty treats. Do I have loving emotions attached to them? No. I can make a memory with loved ones eating one but I do not love them.

I am trying my hardest not to say the L word when it comes to a thing. I am thinking up new ways to express what I really mean. Love is a precious thing. It is a fragile thing that takes time and devotion. Love should not be something thrown in a closet like a rubber ball to be played with later. Love is not to be tossed and bounced around it should be cherished and nurtured. Never taken for granted and always protected. Love is sacred. Football, shopping, chocolate brownie sundaes, and any other “thing” do not fit the category of love, at least not where I am concerned. It is possible that I might fail at times in voicing my “feelings” toward things but one thing is true, love never fails.