Love is a complete surrender. It’s a shredding of the armor and a release of fear. It’s taking the glass barrier you’ve shielded yourself with and having someone throw a brick directly in its center allowing every piece of shattered glass to tumble at your feet. It’s exposure. What is Love? It’s possibility. It’s adventure. It’s peace. When love floods in, it fills your soul with warmth from head to toe which overflows into the world through your pores. It opens your eyes. It makes room for opportunity. It’s complete and infinite freedom. It’s allowing everything that is beautiful to come inside and also be given away. It’s vulnerable. It’s the ability to feel pain in the deepest part of your being and the ability to GIVE way beyond any thoughts of ourselves. Love is acceptance. It’s appreciation. It’s unhindered truth.
I leave you with a poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning my mom always recited when we were children.
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday’s
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with a passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints, — I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! — and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
