I was having a discussion with my boyfriend one night, and we were talking about love and how different people love. We were also talking about how love is a word that is tossed around easily these days; however, it got me thinking more deeply about love and what it really is. Truth be told anyone can say they "Love" someone but if their actions truly do not show it then how is someone to know? Well, again people love in different types of ways. While some may want to go above and beyond because that is their nature, others may have a more subtle approach to how they show their love. For the purpose of this article, I decided to look at love from the perspective of 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. This particular verse in the bible breaks down the very essence of love, and I want to see how it really coincides with how we as humans loves.

The very first part of the verse says that love is patient. What does it mean for love to be patient? I see it as when a person loves someone they learn to accept certain things about their partner and does not allow certain things to bother them. To be patient, according to Webster dictionary, is to "endure hardship calmly and without complaint." Sometimes you need to be patient with people, and that is why I believe that this is the very first part of the verse. I think when you really love someone your patient level increases a lot and things they do tend to not easily bother you as it would have with another person.

The second thing 1 Corinthians talks about is love being Kind. To be kind is to be able to do things to see the happiness of others. Sometimes people may take advantage of your kindness, but in love it is different. In love, a person should want to make their partner happy. It is the smallest gestures that count. Maybe and apology for an argument, or even just taking them out to eat and have a good time. It is all about the small things or acts of kindness that goes a long way.

Love does not envy, boast, is not proud, and is not self-seeking. I combined these four characteristics because I think they go hand in hand. If someone is truly in love, they are not selfish or rude to the person they are with. They accept that sometimes they are not best and accept their wrongs instead of trying to be proud. They do not go around saying everything they have done for or because of a person. They do not keep records of those things, and lastly, they do not want what others have because they are content with who they have. They would be so into that person that there would be no need to have anyone else.

Love is also slow to anger. I love that the Bible says "love is slow to anger" because a lot of people think that when someone gets easily angered, it means they love you a lot. However, when a person loves you they have more patience which makes it hard for them to become angry, and that is beautiful.

Love always trusts, hopes, and protects. In every relationship, trust is a major factor; if you do not have trust, you do not have anything. Love being hopeful is a good thing because sometimes all a person needs is someone to believe in them and hope for the best. I do not know about you but I know I do not play around when it comes to the people I love. I am very protective of the people I love.

My favorite one and the last one is that love always perseveres. This simply means that love at the end of it all love will be able to overcome anything.

Love after this should be shown as not just a word but as having lot more actions and meaning behind it. We should stop viewing it as just a word that can be tossed around and view it for the beautiful and special things that it is.