Definition of REAL LOVE!

One of the greatest books about love is Songs of Solomon (SOS); "I have found the one my soul loves" is one of the more famous verses in Songs of Solomon, it is one of my personal favorites as my husband and I have it engraved on our wedding bands. The book, however, is filled with verses about love geared towards different relationship types. Another one that I recently discovered with is SOS 8:6-7, lets dive in and look at the definition of real love from the perspective of SOS.

1. PLACE ME LIKE A SEAL OVER YOUR HEART, LIKE A SEAL OVER YOUR ARM.

A seal is a device or substance that is used to join two (2) things together to prevent them from separating, or to prevent anything from passing between them. When we place love like a seal over our heart, we can give unconditional love to those attached to us because there is a seal that connects us, which prevents others from destroying the relationship, the love becomes impenetrable.

Can you think of a time you have loved, where no matter what, you stick to that person as though a magnetic seal had been placed on your heart? Where no matter what, no one can come between you and that love to penetrate and distort your love?

Imagine holding your love like a seal over your arm. Where every time you look at that arm you are reminded of the love you have to give and the love you have received. Real love seems to me that you attach to another person and seal it up so that it is protected, it is always visible in your mind's eye, with constant reminders of the love.

2. FOR LOVE IS AS STRONG AS DEATH.

Death is so final; it ends everything, ends pain, ends suffering, ends any potential for possibility. Real love, like death, conquers every living thing, and cannot be resisted. Real love in perfect form is also final as well; the beginning of a relationship seems like real love because passion is strong; the need and want of the other person is strong. We forego food; we forget our friends, forget our parents, we can hardly concentrate at work because we are so in love until the honeymoon period ends. We move into a different space in the relationship. Real love that is as strong as death starts with a bit of the honeymoon period but also quickly begins to create a sense of completion.

3. IT BURNS LIKE A BLAZING FIRE, LIKE A MIGHTY FLAME, MANY WATERS CANNOT QUENCH LOVE, RIVERS CANNOT WASH IT AWAY

Have you ever placed your hand over a blazing fire, an intensely bright and burning fire? I equate this line to an intense passion for another person that is visible to others from miles away.

I attended a wedding where I was assigned to help out in the kitchen, and there was another older man in the kitchen with me, who was also assigned to help in the kitchen. He and I were engaged in conversation when all of a sudden, the back door to the kitchen opened, and he completely forgot what he was saying and could not hear a word coming out of my mouth. I turned to look, and a woman was standing by the door, she turned right, she turned left, she turned to the back and then with the biggest smile turned to the front and said "you like" and he said, "oh yes baby, I like a lot, I'll see you in there." After observing the interaction, I proceeded to ask, "Is that your wife?" and he said, "yes, my wife, my baby, my girlfriend." Their interaction defined passion for me. She was energetic and excited to show herself off to her love, he literally stopped talking to me when she appeared out of nowhere and turned ALL ATTENTION to her until she walked away. This is real love that burns like a blazing fire, where no matter what is going on around you, no matter who is in front of you when you feel the presence of your love. It is like a blazing fire that quickly intensifies and continues to burn, so much so that others around you are able to feel the intensity.

This may seem unrealistic, but I believe that it is achievable. Whether you are newly married, married for ten (10) years, or married for 20 years, as long as you maintain the seal on your heart, the seal on your arm and determine that once you love that love is final.