A day of love.

Today... I am going to talk a little about love. Because really, I can't tell you everything I think and feel in one day. Maybe even in my whole life. There is a lot of different kinds and ways of love. So I am just going to rant a little bit about it.

Love. Four letters that make a word that can change a life. Even if it's just for a moment in time. A second that someone can look back on and live in their hearts for all time because of the three little words of "I love you." Words hold a lot more emotion and power then we think, you know the saying "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me." I'm sure I'm not the only one who knows that's not true. Because we give power to the words we long to hear all our lives.

Now, there are many different kinds of love. The love you have for objects differ from the love you have for people. Like how I love my Hippo bank or my favorite movie but I would give them both up for anyone of my friends. You have a love for things because we place those things above others. It would be like taking two books and telling someone to pick one. A pretty easy task. You pick the one you love more. You can live without the other. But if you were to take that persons two best friends and told them to pick... I'm hoping like most people in the world, they couldn't. Because every person holds a different place in our hearts.

I love my family. All of them. Even when we disagree or fight or all those other things families do. And my friends are a part of my family. My brothers and sisters in Christ. But not only because of God, also because I love them very much, with my whole heart.

Love is something I have been struggling with. Not loving people or letting people love me. But finding the lines in those different relationships and making sure those lines are not crossed. I have best friends who are boys and girls... right now we are sticking with the boys. And here is why, girls all relate. We watch movies and laugh and cry and talk forever. It's fine for us to cuddle up on the couch and relax. It's okay to do that with guy friends, I do. But you have to make sure that feelings do not hurt your relationship... your friendship.

So... the problem. Not a big deal, just a misunderstanding or two very strong headed people fighting for what they love, well... who they love. One of my best guy friends is fighting for my heart. He knows how he feels about me and what he wants in life. He is a great guy, has been my best friend for years, knows all about my past struggles and makes sure that he can help me with problems now. I can call him day or night and count on him to be there for me. We have our ups and downs. And sometimes it's hard to find that balance of friendship because our feelings are different. I love him so much. It's hard not to love someone who has seen you at your very lowest point and they are still right in the middle of the battle with you. But lines blur and feelings get hurt. We push each other into roles to often and it makes things feel like they are on the edge of breaking.

Love is a strong word. You use it looking into someones eyes, late at night, standing in the rain. On sunny days, at the beach. You use it with impact when your head is on someones chest, eyes red from crying, letting them know that you can get through anything because of Love. I wouldn't trade all the bad experiences I have had with love for a thousand good ones. Because I have had amazing moments that have changed my life.

Standing on the docks with a boy, bread tie in his hand. That's love.
Sitting under shooting stars holding hands with a boy, friends running around. That's love.
Listening to frogs singing by the water, laying in the grass. That's love.
Being stuck at the top of a Ferris Wheel, being told "Just look in my eyes". That's love.
Holding hands at graduation, knowing you are going to miss that person more then anything. That's love.
Driving away and parking a block away to cry till you can drive again. That's love.
Thinking of all the way to fix something because you feel that you broke it. That's love.

Love hurts. It's an emotion that doesn't really fit into one box. You talk about happiness and joy, those are grand emotions. Sad and depressed... not great emotions to talk about. But love wraps all those up. Love is an up and down. Something that makes you feel amazing when you have it and when you lose it, it feels like the world is crumbling down around you.

I know that this is a bunch of here and there stuff. But the one thing I ask from you today... Let those people know that you love them. Embrace the love you get, give all the love you can. Don't take any person for granted. And don't let yourself be hurt by love... remember what you have learned and let go.

Love ♥