It’s no secret that I’ve only dated two guys in my life. Additionally, my experiences with them were so vast and different that I came away with two separate lessons from each.

When I broke up with A and I went through what I went through, he did a really thorough job of teaching me everything I needed to know about hate.

Hate is this all encompassing feeling that brings a person down.

It has the power to control your mood, to ruin your days.

It’s like the dark storm cloud the covers the sun.

It keeps you miserable and it gives far too much power to the person you feel hate towards.

Hate also makes you feel righteous and strong, but it’s not real. It gives you the belief that it’s okay to feel this way because you were wronged because that makes it easier for it to feed on your soul.

Love is something different all together and Joe taught me everything I needed to know.

Love is all encompassing and it lifts you up.

It brightens your world and your view.

Love pushes you to be more of a person then you thought you could be.

It caresses, it holds, it comforts.

Love doesn’t tear down, it doesn’t break you, it doesn’t take delight in your miseries.

It’s liberating.

Love is forgiving those who wrong you. Its wanting the best for someone. Its showing kindness to a stranger. Love is empathetic, love is sympathetic.

Love makes you invincible, it takes away your fear, it gives you the power you need to overcome.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, 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.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
            1 Corinthian 13:4-7,13