Love

What is love?

Webster days Love is

1a. : strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties

1b: attraction based on sexual desire : affection and tenderness felt by lovers

1c.: affection based on admiration, benevolence, or common interests

1d.: an assurance of love

2. warm attachment, enthusiasm, or devotion

3a. the object of attachment, devotion, or admiration

3b.a beloved person

3c.British —used as an informal term of address

4. unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another

5.: the fatherly concern of God for humankind

That's a lot of definitions! So when feeling the emotion "Love" how do you know which "Love" you are feeling?

Let's take the definitions

1a. : strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties

This would be a love for family. An affection towards your parents, cousins, aunts, uncles and all other family

1b: attraction based on sexual desire : affection and tenderness felt by lovers

This would be the first step of being in love.

1c.: affection based on admiration, benevolence, or common interests

Your friends/co-workers would fall in this category

1d.: an assurance of love

I would call this the second stage of being in love

2. warm attachment, enthusiasm, or devotion

3a. the object of attachment, devotion, or admiration

To be in love with someone. If you've felt this emotion, it's like no other. I can't explain the way my heart still flutters when I see my husband. After 10+ years together and 7 years of marriage, at the age of 27, I am still as in love with him today as I was then.

3b.a beloved person

3c.British —used as an informal term of address

I put these two together because I feel like they're the same thing. Instead of saying "beloved" the British have shortened it to "love"

4.unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another

The Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. This is your love for mankind

5.: the fatherly concern of God for humankind

John 3:16: For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son. That whosoever believeth shall have everlasting life.

Examples:I love my bike! Are you in love with your bike? No. Do you love your bike as it's a child? No. You really really really LIKE your bike.

Examples: I love my teacher! Are you in love with your teacher? Chances are no. Do you love her like a parent? In some cases yes. You feel an emotional affection towards your teacher based on admiration.

There are many different ways to love someone. But don't be afraid to love because it's a strong emotion. It is a strong emotion. There's a difference in being "dependant" on someone and being "in love" with someone. Use your heart to tell you the difference.