STOP AND THINK – Love is not affectionate feeling, but a steady wish for the loved person’s ultimate good as far as it can be obtained. (C. S. Lewis, 20th century Christian apologist)

In a love-saturated society, the real meaning of love is lost. It’s confused with mere affection on the one hand or unbridled passion on the other. It is often very selfish, each lover trying to fulfill his own desires for satisfaction. As Lewis notes, however, genuine love—the kind noted in the Bible—thinks first not of self but of the other, seeking his or her very best.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. … Love is not self-seeking … It always protects, always trusts. (1 Corinthians 13:4, 5, 7)