Defining Love

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." - 1Corinthians 13:4-7

We clean up nicely

My Director, Peanut, and I were blessed to witness and be a big part of my brother-in-law's wedding this past weekend. He is the little brother I never had. (And as I often joke with him, never really wanted.) But of course that's not true. Truth is, My Director's brother is one of the kindest, most genuine, loving, forgiving, and thoughtful people I know. So is his bride. I guess it runs in the family because My Director is the same way.

She and I gave what amounts to the sermon at the ceremony. We spoke about love, mostly their love. We opened it with the passage I quoted above. While working on our remarks, I reflected on the love My Director and I share. I may be one of the few guys who is willing to admit that he enjoys wedding ceremonies. I do because they allow me to remember being up there, telling the world that I love this person and will honor and cherish her for the rest of my life. They remind me of our love. How we've endured, grown, evolved over nearly fifteen years together; nearly ten of them married. How we're still just as in love as we were when we first met, if not more. 

So on this happy occasion, here are some of my thoughts on love:

Love is giving yourself to another person. Your whole self. Love is not holding back.

Love is walking around naked in front of your partner without fear of judgment or embarrassment.

Love is carrying someone when they are not at their best.

Love is not telling them they're not at their best, just understanding and knowing and doing everything you can to help them through it.

Love is being the stronger person when your partner is hurting. Love is taking their sh1t no matter what it is because you know they are struggling. And it breaks your heart to see them like that.

Love is not bringing it up when they are better. 

Love is not expecting anything in return, except love.

Love is not keeping score.

Love is laughing, all of the time. Laughing until it hurts in the good times. Laughing until you cry in the bad times.

Love is having a bad day but forgetting about it when you get home because she's maybe having a worse one.

Love is sacrificing. 

Love is doing things you don't want to do, acting like you normally might not act, because it will make her happy.

Love is revolving most of your autumn Sundays around what time the Jets are playing, because your irrational husband is a fanatic. But it makes him happy.

Love is not complaining when you're done cleaning the kitchen and you finally sit down to watch some television and your wife is enjoying that day's General Hospital on DVR. (Because you know most fall Sundays are all about the J-E-T-S.)

Love is saying "Coxsackie" when you pass the sign for that town's exit on the New York State Thruway because you know your husband is a big child and it makes him giggle:

(cock*SACK*ee) Makes me laugh every time.

Love is knowing without asking.

Love is doing without checking first.

Love is saying "No problem" when all you want to say is, "Are you kidding me?!"

Love is rising to the occasion.

Love is saying you're sorry.

Love is fixing it so there isn't a next time.

Love will surprise you.

Love will also make you wonder why you're so surprised.

Love is being happy just being together.

Love isn't easy. It's work. That's why it's so worth it.

Love is infinite.

Love is proof that everything happens for a reason. Here's our proof.