on love, emotion, and commitment (a double drabble)

LOVE: A strong affection (a moderate feeling or emotion) for another arising out of kinship or personal ties. (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

Would we demote love to this simple definition?

Love is not merely a strong affection; neither does it arise out of kinship or personal ties. For love is death to self (no moderate feeling would promote this) and it reaches far beyond those we will ever meet.

Only in the 4^th definition given by Merriam-Webster do we find something closer to a complete meaning.

LOVE: “an unselfish, loyal benevolent (marked by or disposed to doing good) concern for the good of another.”

This, more or less, is love; concern for another despite personal desires, despite fickle feelings. It is everlasting; it is binding.

But again, it is so much more. It is an emotion that feels fiery passion, but is not driven by this unpredictable force; rather it is driven by the desire for good in another, a desire for hope, and peace for another even at the cost of your own happiness. But even more importantly it is the action upon this drive.

“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13 (ESV)

5.22.11 gush - a drabble of 100 words

what happens when the words just aren’t there and the emotions are all bottled up and they want to come out but the words just aren’t there? and Anger and Sorrow and Happy and Joy are all fighting each other for control of your mind. then Reason steps in and tries to overrule them all. there’s the battle inside and the words just aren’t there. the clanging and clamor and the words still aren’t there. and then all of a sudden, you open your mouth and the words that weren’t there just start flooding out.

and then you can’t stop.