When my late husband died, I had many people tell me that I would get over him. I’d move on. Either they doubted my love for him, or they knew nothing of love. The truth is, even in death, I love him. Love doesn’t just disappear or weaken because someone is gone. Love is lasting.

When my husband and I are arguing, when we say hurtful things, the love we have for each other doesn’t disintegrate. When I’m struggling and I have walls up, my husband doesn’t lose love for me. Love is constant. As the years go by, my love for him doesn’t dwindle. Through the good times, and the tough times, our love stands strong. Love perseveres. Always.

Far too many people have no idea what real love is. They talk about falling in and out of love, and that’s impossible. You can fall out of lust, but love is enduring. People give up too easily, a partner loses their job, gets cancer, puts on weight, and the other party throws in the towel. That is not love.

Love is taking on the financial burden when your loved one needs you to. Love is cleaning up vomit, bathing your parent/spouse/family member. Love is supportive, love is helpful, selfless, unconditional. It is sacrificial.

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.