When to use the word 'Love'

[Z-man]

Love is a very powerful word for me. When I was younger I vowed never to use the phrase "I love you" unless I was also willing to say "Will you spend the rest of your life with me?" at the same time.

The first time I told a woman "I love you" was when I asked my wife to marry me. Since then, in the past 16 or so years that we've been married, I've told her "I love you" about 1,000,000,000,000 times.

-Z-man.

[peppy]

A lady I know was complaining about her husband never telling her that he loves her. She asked him about it and he told her that he said he loved her on their wedding day and if it ever changed he would let her know. They have been married about 50 years.

[scottmandue]

From day one until I was about thirty my dad and I fought like cats and dogs... I hated him... from thirty to forty I barely spoke to him... after forty I see him almost every week... and I make sure to tell him I love him every time.

I think the Greeks have it right, they have something like four different words for love.

I have male friends that I have known for over thirty years, I would die for them... I love them.

I have been with women that I though I loved... but in retrospect it was just lust.

I love my cats but if they get terribly ill they will have to be put down.

My wife... I love more than all of the above.

YMMV

[Z-man]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

I think the Greeks have it right, they have something like four different words for love.

Eros love -- a physical based love, often equated with lust in our society.

Phileo love - a 'brotherly love'

Agape love - a love that seeks nothing in return, a love that will keep on giving even if nothing is returned. Often referred to as UNCONDITIONAL love. While some say this is the most emotional love of all, I believe it is less emotional than the other two loves, since agape doesn't depend on what one gets in return, thus feeling sad or angry because of unreturned love does not change one's agape love for a person.

Yes, I studied Greek in college. It was part of the 'geek curriculum.'

There's an interesting example of how the meaning of these words is lost in translation in the Bible:

John 21:15-17
When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?"
"Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."
Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?"
He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."

The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you."

Jesus said, "Feed my sheep.

Why was Pete upset the third time Jesus asked if he loved Him?

Here's the translation:
Jesus: "Peter, do you AGAPE me?" (Do you love me unconditionally?)
Peter: "Yes, Lord, I PHILEO you." (Yes, I love you as a brother.)
Jesus: "Peter, do you AGAPE me?" (Do you love me unconditionally?)
Peter: "Yes Lord, I PHIELO you." (Yes, I love you as a brother.)
Jesus: "Peter, do you PHILEO me?" (Do you even love me as a brother?)

Sheds more light on what was going on there...

-Z-man.

[M.D. Holloway]

I Agape my wife, I Eros my mistress.