Love takes time.

It needs a history of giving and receiving, laughing and crying.

Love never promises instant gratification, only ultimate fulfillment.

Love means believing in someone, in something.

It supposes a willingness to struggle, to work, to suffer, and to rejoice.

Satisfaction and ultimate fulfillment are by-products of dedicated love.

They belong only to those who can reach beyond themselves;

to whom giving is more important than receiving.

Love is doing everything you can to help others

build whatever dreams they have.

Love involves much careful and active listening.

It is doing whatever needs to be done,

and saving whatever will promote the other's

happiness, security, and well-being.

Sometimes, love hurts.

Love is on a constant journey to what others need.

It must be attentive, caring, and open,

both to what others say and to what others cannot say.

Love says no with empathy and great compassion.

Love is firm, but when needed it must be tender.

When others have tried and failed, love is the hand in yours

in your moments of discouragement and disappointment.

Love is reliable.

Love is a choice and commitment to others' true and lasting happiness.

It is dedicated to growth and fulfillment.

Love is not selfish.

Love sometimes fails for lack of wisdom or abundance of weakness,

but it forgives, knowing the intentions are good.

Love realizes and accepts that there will be disagreements

and disturbing emotions.

There may be times when miles lay between,

but love is a commitment.

It believes and endures things.

Love encourages freedom of self.

Love shares positive and negative

reactions to warm and cold feelings.

Love is the first to encourage and the last to condemn.

Love is a commitment to growth, happiness,

and fulfillment of one another.

-B. Upham


BACK TO "HUSBANDS"

 

0

 BACK TO INDEX