LOVE – Ah! Just seeing or hearing this word can stir emotions inside all of us. It can trigger a memory – happy or sad, usually a memory of someone that we treasure. This word had been used in many songs, essays, novels, poems or any other literature that we can’t think of. It is used as a subject for an art, theatre play or movies. It is used as a topic for discussion and most of us want to feel it, to have it, dream of it, wish or long for it. It is a word that is used and abused in a way that we usually use this word to tell about what we feel about something, anything.
I’ve learned that in the ancient Greek language, there are at least four (4) types of love: (1) Agape love – usually denotes love of God for man, or love of man for God, or love for humanity. It is the most used term in the Christian Greek Scriptures; (2) Eros – romantic love or intimate love usually used between couples; (3) Philia – love between friends; and (4) Storge – love among family members or relatives, usually between a parent and a child. Among the four (4) types of love, Agape is the word used to identify the most noble act of love, it is said it is a love guided by principles, not just a mere emotion, although it can be mistaken as an intellectual type of love, but it also denotes intimate or warm affection but is not swayed by sentiments.
We are usually familiar with romantic love since it is the most or usual subject in any form of art or literature but I think Agape love – noble love is what we should aspire. We might say we love our partner, our child, our relatives and even our fellow human beings but true love for me is not just mere words, it is with action. Does Agape love merely exist amongst Christians? I will definitely say: No. I think and believe that we all have this type of love within us; it is the type of love that transcends time, boundary, religion, culture, nation or language. It is a love where you are willing to give a part of yourself, may it be time, material things or even your life for another human being without expecting anything in return like what a homeless man in Brazil did to save a woman from a hostage taker.
What really then is love? I think it is really hard to define, my favorite definition will always be what is written in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, where it says: “Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous. It does not brag, does not get puffed up, does not behave indecently, does not look for its own interests, does not become provoked. It does not keep account of the injury. It does not rejoice over unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. It is a kind of love that we should show to our fellowmen, to our neighbors, which was clearly identified in the parable of the Good Samaritan as told by Jesus.
We now know about what’s happening to our brothers and sisters in Syria which is truly heartbreaking, we may not be able to do anything for them as we have no means to help them, however, we can give our time to pray for them and we thank those who are doing something to help them, for they are showing love in their own way through giving donations and hope for Syria and opening of their homes for the refugees. It is heart melting to know that even animals like the dog from Thailand who saves a baby from a dump site can show humanity. I think if we all let our heart be filled with this kind of love, there will be no war, no unnecessary death, no child will be aborted or abandoned and our world will be a much better place to live in.
How about you dear readers, how do you define love and how can you show love?
First of all, I loved your writing!
Second, as a Brazilian, I read that news and I may confess I got surprised to know his act has been translated into other languages and reached other cultures. Thanks for sharing this!
As you brilliantly wrote, love is not easy to be defined, or even felt. To my view, love is something that is even hard to be understood. But it is easy to notice how precious it is.
For me, love is when you give yourself, especially to whom may never be able to give you anything back. Giving freely. No expectations.
Thanks a lot for this inspirational reading!
Have an amazing afternoon!
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Heart warming words…Thank you very much! 🙂 Giving freely…no expectation really is what love is all about not only for someone else but for ourselves too since it makes us happier. An act of selflessness like what that homeless man from Brazil did goes beyond measure and beyond cultures. Have an amazing and blessed day! Hugs and love to you! 🙂
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Hi…..nice post. I like it. Almosto about love. Almost people never ending to say about love. For me….love is Live.
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Hi…thank you 🙂 I guess to most of us it is elusive but we all need and want it since life has no meaning without it.
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Yup……I agree….has no meaning without love. Nice……salam.
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Checked your blog, I think you are a great designer. Sorry if I am not able to comment there since I don’t understand the language. I just want you to know I loved the designs. If you see my like, just think that I appreciate 🙂
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Thank You for visited my blog. I See. Sorry I write in Bahasa Indonesia. My country Language. Yes. I m Interior designer and like poems. Thanks for appreciated.
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#1 I’ve been thinking a lot about love as a subject, so this really intrigues me. It caught my mind.
#2 Have you read HONY’s posts about the refugees from Syria. They break and touch hearts at the same time.
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Thank you for reading it. I haven’t read the post yet about Syria, can you please share the link? I have watched videos about what is happening to Syria and it is really heartbreaking to see, if only people will let love guide our hearts then that tragedy should not happen anywhere. God bless!
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https://www.takepart.com/article/2015/09/28/hony-refugee
Here is a link to an article about it. Its really amazing to read something that expresses what they felt directly from them. And yes we really need to let peace prevail. It’s a pleasure reading Your posts 😊
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Thank you! 🙂
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I have read the article already, I glad Muhammad had now a new life, still despite adversity human willingness to live keep us alive. There will always be two kinds of people, those who hate and those who love. May we always be those who love despite our differences in culture, nation and religion. God bless to you Gloria. 🙂
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Thank you so much 😊
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Wow! Such an amazing post..love it
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Thank you very much and thank you for visiting!
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Beautiful. Sun filled rays of hope. Each one of us is like no other. Love yourself and you will love the world, but love must not be selfish, it must be selfless.
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Thank you for visiting and I am really glad you see it like that 🙂
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Well said indeed! Guys, please read and leave a comment. your comments make be blog better! http://bit.ly/1FX0a3i
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Yes indeed LOVE knows no bounds, very in-depth thought on love.
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Thank you for reading and appreciation. 🙂 Keep the love! 🙂 Thank you for visiting. 🙂
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You are welcome
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hi please visit our alumni website and comment in any post and request for an access there. Here is our site https://blogging101alumni.wordpress.com/
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Hello again,I understand what your are saying here.The things happening in Syria shouldn’t be ignored!…And we should try and help them out..!
Might I suggest another blog,who are helping out the refugees,through this tough time.You might find the blogs content interesting.
(http://www.pinetreerepublic.com)
I wrote something similar some time ago,If you have the time,do check it out 🙂
https://sabahbatul786.wordpress.com/2015/09/17/pkim-ikm-ikik-zertu8evolution/
Happy blogging..And kudos for making this effort:)
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Thank you very much. Good to know there are people like you who cares. I will definitely visit both of your blogs. God bless!
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Yeah,it is..Thank you for that.But pine tree republic is not my blog,I just follow it.My blogs are,
https://sabahbatul.wordpress.com/about/
https://sabahbatul786.wordpress.com/about/
Happy Blogging:)
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I’ll follow them all. Glad to know knew friends in blogosphere 🙂
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Yeah it is,Thank you again…I am glad I visited your blog earlier today..A new friend,always makes me happy 🙂
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Yes, it makes me happy too! Just call me Shine 🙂
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That a pretty name,Shine:)
I am Sabah,nice to meet you…*Handshake*
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Nice to meet you too! *Handshake* 🙂
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what is your wordpress address so that my friend can invite you in our forum?
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sabahbatul786.wordpress.com
Thank you for all your help:)
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“Love Knows No Bounds”
The title itself is enough.
The mention of the four types, clearly distinguishes; one is bound to know.
Of the Agape love _ it is not so easy to fall in that love nor it is difficult too.
I think it just happens- where is God? Who are you to him? In the other three, there is somebody to respond and there is a bond. The bond is mutual, if one breaks, it shall become a broken relationship, it may go to dogs.
The love for God is in the Heart center, and he is in the center of the Heart. If understood, its the Greatest of the Great love. Here, if one breaks the bond, it becomes more stronger. I feel you understand; why? because you love God and he loves you too.
My love to You as in Agape.
Shiva
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Agape to you Shiva 🙂 God love all of us. We are the one who may forget Himm but He never will forget us. God bless to you! 🙂
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Agape!
As I read your reply.
My tears of Joy came from the Heart.
Blessed are WE.
Shiva
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Yes, blessed are those who blessed others Shiva. Agape to you 🙂
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Reblogged this on wwwpalfitness.
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Thank you! 🙂
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You are welcome 🙂
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The best and most beautiful post on love I’ve read. I agree love is best done by actions than just saying them.
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Yes, as they say action speaks louder than words and will always be true 🙂 Thank you for your very kind words and I’m glad you loved it 🙂 Thank you for visiting!
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A beautiful post!
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Thank you Carol 🙂 I’m glad you liked it!
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After my divorce, I became cynical about love. I thought we had perfect love-but it was selfish. I dove into the Bible to figure it out. Oh and my eyes were opened. The entire 1 John is all about love, but this scripture did it for me: “Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” 1 John 4:8
For my husband, as we reconciled, 1 Corinthians 13 showed him HOW to love! We reconciled, remarried and now are loving our full time travel life and spending lots of time with our grandsons.
Thanks for such a great article. We also used the 4 definitions to unwrap our love! It’s now stronger than ever….we’re happy to share our story: http://thetumblelees.me/2011/07/23/ok-we-forgave-each-other-now-what/
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Yes, I love that verse too, I think I love all the verses in the bible about love 🙂 I truly believe that God is love and without that love we are not in this world, we are nothing, He sacrificed so much even if He didn’t have to just for us, immortals, who can never repay His love. Marriage is stronger if God is at the center of it in my opinion. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and I will surely read your story as I know I will learn a lot from them 🙂
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You’re right, there are so many great verses. It’s when we’re in need and then God can speak clearly through a verse or two to reach our hearts!
Keep shining!
😄
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Keep the love 🙂 Thank you for visiting!
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Wow…an awesome post. It did surely stir something inside me. And thr verses from the bible…so true.
Have a great day!!
Arcane owl
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Good to know it stirred something inside of you 🙂 Spread the love! Thanks!
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Wow! I love the idea of love! I’m into poetry and short stories, kindly follow my blog thepoeticturk.wordpress.com if interested. Thanks!!
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Thank you for visiting! I’ll check out your blog 🙂
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this is one of my fave verses in the Bible about love:
“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” – 1 John 4:18
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I like it too! If we love but fear the one we said we love then it is not real.
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Here is mine about LOVE https://koolitzable.wordpress.com/2015/09/10/writing-101-day-three-one-word-inspiration-love/
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Yes, I’ve checked it Jessy. I gave my comment there 🙂 I hope you liked it.
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Wonderful post! Insightful and true.
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Thank you! Yes, we are all bound by love. 🙂
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Wow! You have indeed discussed most of the best definitions of love! 🙂 It’s great. Congratulations. 🙂
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Thank you very much! I think we all believe and hope for love but usually it can be hard to give love as we are usually focused on ourselves. I hope it touches our hearts 🙂
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Aw. That’s true. I have been in a relationship for quite sometime now, (am I oversharing? :D) and your words made me realize that I have been selfish and that is bad. 🙂
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Hahaha, I think it happens to all of us in a romantic relationship. It will improve though as the relationship grows and mature 🙂
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Yes. I am a bit more mature now. I hope I can be better. 🙂
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I’m pretty sure you will. 🙂
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A beautiful piece on love. You have it all written in words.
To me, love is hate’s neighbour -who lives just across the line. One hates because he/she loves. So if anyone tells me that he/she hates me (although no one ever say that to me ☺️), I’ll reply, “Thank you for loving me.” 🙂
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It’s one way to put it, it may mean you are the one loving them since you did’t return hate with hate 🙂
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I agree with Arpita.
I feel you did a great job on this prompt. It’s simply the best article I have read on this prompt and also the best article I have read on your blog so far. 🙂
Very moving indeed.
Anand 🙂
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Wow! Thank you for that my friend 🙂
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Welcos to all amigos 🙂
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Corinthians 13:4-8 Is my favorite part of the entire Bible.
Beautiful post!
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Yes, I think it encompasses everything that we should do 🙂
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