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 adundance of weakness, but it forgives,
knowing the intentions are good.

Love does not attach conditions
Genuine love is ALWAYS a free gift.

Love realizes and accepts that there will be
disagreements and disturbing emotions
There may be times when miles lay between,
but love is a committment.
It believes, and endures all things.

Love encourages freedom of self.

Love shares positive and negative reactions
to warm and cold feelings.

Love, intimate love, will never reject others.

It is the first to encourage and the last to condemn.
Love is a committment to growth,
happiness and the fulfillment of one another

--Submitted by KniteRider