Love Is

Seeing the damage you cause by choices and by actions, and doing whatever it takes to make sure that you don't do that again to the people you love. It's seeing the pain in their hearts and not being able to be the reason they struggle. It's making the most important people in your life, your most important priorities. I'm learning what love is. I'm learning what it looks like to have someone look me in the face and say, "I am sorry I hurt you. I am sorry I put you through that. I refuse to do that to you again." And then to watch those words be followed by promises kept. Safety. Comfort. Love is forgiving mistakes because your partner makes sure they give you every tool you need TO forgive them. Love is forgiveness and looking past the bad times because you actually move past the bad times. Not only is impossible to forgive someone who says they are sorry but then continually makes the same choice to hurt you, but it as also impossible to respect them. You earn trust by protecting the people you love even from yourself. You choose not to do damage. And when you do, you do whatever it takes to make sure you don't put that wedge in again. Love is forgiveness and love is protection. Love is following through. Forgiveness is a partnership. You forgive someone and you hope with every fiber in you that they don't do it again. Asking for forgiveness is asking the person you hurt to give you the opportunity to turn around and do it again to them and asking for their trust that you won't. So when you do, it stings that much more.