Love

Love is not love

Which alters when it alteration finds,

Or bends with the remover to remove.

O no, it is an ever-fixed mark

That looks on tempests and is never shaken.

~ William Shakespeare

I don’t care much for poetry, seeing as not much of it makes sense, but I do like this piece. If you think about it for a while this poem is so true! People today do not know the meaning of love. In many or most cases love is lust and mistakenly called love. For that reason I believe the word “love” is one of the most abused words used today. People say, “I love you!” but what they mean is, “I love myself.”

The true test of love is not when life’s seas are smooth and glassy. This is the true test: when your little ship is tossed to and fro on the sea of life. When the ocean waves crash against your hull in confusing currents that twist and twirl you into every direction all at once, while above the thunder roars and lightening flashes. It is when everything is seemingly out of control that the quality and endurance of love is put to the ultimate test. True love--a godly love--can endure such a tempest, while human love sinks in its true frailty to the ocean floor. Love stands firm, as a rock constantly beaten by the cruel waves of life’s trials. Song of Solomon 8:7 says it best. “Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it.” What do the wedding vows say?

For better, for worse,

For richer, for poorer,

In sickness and in health…

True love survives the “worse” life has to offer, the meager years of “poorer,” and the setback and pain of sickness. Love endures and endures. Love is strong as death. “Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death.” Song of Solomon 8:6

We have lost an essential character quality. It’s this thing called loyalty and commitment. These are the foundation for any relationship, although in particular the marriage relationship. Not many marriages, let alone friendships, endure for the span of a life. That is mainly due to the fact that people do not have God’s love. His love lasts forever, enduring all things. Look at this list!

Charity…

Suffereth long

Is kind

Charity envieth not

Charity vaunteth not itself

Is not puffed up,

Doth not behave itself unseemly

Seeketh not her own

Is not easily provoked

Thinketh no evil;

Rejoiceth not in iniquity

Rejoiceth in the truth;

Beareth all things

Believeth all things

Hopeth all things

Endureth all things.

Charity never faileth

(1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

Charity, a godly love, looks past failure and overcomes obstacles. It does not angrily lash out with accusations or speak unjust things behind the back of another. Love is honest, to the point of pain. Love compels one to speak hard truths, but not with a spew of venomous hatred. Not many people have that kind of foundational love--charity--and that is why relationships crumble. Love is strong as death. Love that stops loving was never love to begin with.

Love is not love which alters when it alteration finds or bends with the remover to remove.

O no, it is an ever-fixed mark that looks on tempests and is never shaken.