With Valentine’s Day approaching, I couldn’t help but think about love, where it all starts and the different forms that it comes in.

The winged cherub named Cupid carries a bow and arrow. When Cupid shoots the arrow, the person will fall madly in love. Is it a myth? Could loving someone or something be that simple or is there more to it? 

“Love; an intense feeling of affection, a fondness, tenderness, warmth.” But where does it come from? For me, I believe that we stem from love. A source greater than what we can imagine - God.  God is love and part of Him lives inside each of us.

For most of us, our first experiences with love come from our parents. They are the examples of what we gauge love is, what it is all about. I was lucky to have had parents who loved each other deeply. Their love has remained a strong force within me. A guide in loving others. 

Friends are the greatest gifts on earth. I couldn’t imagine life without them. People who encourage you, share your ups and downs, accomplishments, laughter, etc. Life is richer and fuller with good friends.

Your first love is one of your most memorable. Where you learn what love is and what it isn’t. For some, the first love is forever and for others an experience.

The love of a lifetime, the kind of stuff all the great love stories are made from. The ultimate - a soulmate.  

This kind of love can take over your thoughts, your life and run away with your heart. You can’t stop thinking about them. You want to be with them all the time. You become each other’s world and you revolve around it. You’re in sync in every way, bringing out the best in each other. This kind of love is what we dream of and sets our soul on fire. The lasting kind. 

There is the self-sacrificing kind of love. Those that serve and protect others. Amplifying love and commitment on a high level.

Unconditional love. The best kind of love you can have. I’ve seen it in children and animals. They love you regardless of what you look like or if you have an off day, their love is the same. Genuine and true. 

Sometimes you can love things that don’t love you back. Things like; music, a sunrise, mountains, ice cream, shoes, a car, a job, an idea. The list could go on. Things aren’t more valuable than people, but I think God intended us to enjoy them. 

There is a risk when you love. You risk getting hurt. Having to say goodbye is the hardest.  Whether it is a relationship or a loved one, it stings the heart. You wonder if you can ever love like that again.  I believe the risk is worth it. To love and be loved is the best feeling there is. I think Alfred Lord Tennyson says it best, “Tis better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all.” 

Happy Valentine’s Day. May love abound in all ways.