The Duality of Love

        One of the greatest—and simultaneously worst—gifts that life has to offer is love.

    At only eighteen, I believe I’ve only seen a glimpse of what is to come in my lifetime. But of course, I have had my fair share of times where it has hurt me.

    To love someone unconditionally is to love them without terms. You accept them for who they are, flaws and all. No matter the situation, your reaction is always rooted in love—truly desiring the best for another person and feeling that you’ll stop at nothing to help them achieve their dreams.

    While this is the best part, there’s also a side that is seldom talked about enough. When you truly love someone, you give up a piece of your heart to them. You trust someone to hold this small piece of your soul, and quite frankly, it’s terrifying. It’s scary to know that you love someone so deeply and that, when they’re taken away, it might destroy you. It's different for everyone, and it even depends upon where you're at in your life. For you, it could be a spouse, a sibling, a child, parent, friend, or any other person who is important to you.

    While this time of year is one of great celebration, it also dredges up the little pockets of grief tucked away in corners only you can find. The birth of our Savior also signifies the death later to come. It’s the beginning of the greatest love story to ever exist.

    Upon recent reflection, I decided that love is equal parts good and equal parts bad. Throughout my life, I’ve seen countless people lose spouses, siblings, daughters, friends, or whatever other category someone fits under. During every funeral, I’ve thought, “Isn’t it so scary to give so much love to this person, only to have them ripped away in an instant?” Though you can love someone so much, there’s always the eventual understanding that they won’t be here forever—and neither will you. No amount of love can ever keep someone here.

    And then it hit me: isn’t that just what life is?

    Part of the consequence of living such a wonderful and opportune life is the chance to love others unconditionally. Sometimes, you love someone so much that the mere idea of them being taken away can cut you into tiny, innumerable pieces.

    But while that’s terrifying, can’t it also be beautiful?

    You don’t just see love in people or relationships; it’s evident in all walks of life.

    Our good Lord has embedded His love throughout the earth and often appears in our lives in the moments we need it most—in the “perfect timing” text you get from a friend or the beautiful flowers you see on your drive to work. It’s found in the silence of a funeral home awaiting death arrangements, but also in a baby’s first birthday celebration.

    The point is, love is everything. It’s exhilarating and terrifying, but it’s also inescapable.

    With only one life to live and countless people to love, why waste time being scared? To be hurt as a consequence of love is a reality that everyone walks through, but how often do we take that for granted?

    Our Savior hung on a cross because of His love for us—a love so great and unimaginable that it’s impossible to replicate. We can only display a tiny fraction of the love that Jesus has for us to others. 

    But how wonderful is it to live a life full of love?