LOVE... what on earth is it?

Anthony and I were just talking and the topic of our conversation was love. We were discussing why and how we love. He had me jot down this short poem. Love is not love that alters, when it alteration finds. Something I just realized is that when you truly love someone circumstances don't alter that love. For instance, as everyone knows by now, Tony and I are seperated and undoubtedly our "circumstances" have changed. Do I not love him anymore? Of course I love him! He doesn't even have to love me back in order for me to love him. You see love is not something anyone can take away from you. Even if they don't want it you have the ability to still possess it. Do you or would you not love your children if they made bad choices or even hurt you? NO! You would be frustrated or angry and not tolerant but you would still love them and realize that they are headed for heartache and struggles but you would never stop loving them. Love is something that you decide to give. It really isn't about the heart but about the mind. It resides in the heart but your mind is where love is born. The thing about love is this...it is not something earned by someone else. Love is about you. Who and what you have decided about yourself. Love is not dependant on the one I love, it is dependant me. I guess that's how we are expected to love our enemies. How can we love our enemies when we can't even love someone close to us the way we should? Love doesn't start with someone else it starts within you. You can decide to love whoever you want. Realize however that when you decide to love another there is always a risk of pain. This is where true love is defined. Are you loving because of what you will receive or are you loving because of what you will give? I think that is the question we need to ask ourselves.