Love addict.

Infatuation: A foolish, unreasoning, or extravagant passion or attraction; an object of extravagant, short-lived passion.

Love: a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person; a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, as for a parent, child, or friend; the benevolent affection of God for His creatures, or the reverent affection due from them to God.

Those definitions of Love were three of fourteen when utilized as a noun.

And I don't think that even begins to cover it.

I think we suffer from infatuation far too often. We become infatuated with people. I personally believe that when people say it was "love at first sight," they mean they were infatuated immediately. I think love encompasses so much more than that.

I think sometimes we mistake infatuation for love. This is not just in the context of people, though it usually is. We think we love someone because of this feeling we have inside of us. We get warm fuzzies. Butterflies. All that crap that the media decides to portray as being 'love' in every chick-flick under the sun.

But the truth is, it's infatuation. It's a short-lived [sometimes relatively speaking], foolish yet extravagant and passionate obsession with someone. Or something.

Love is so much more than that, in my opinion. It's a commitment. It's sacrificial. When you've been married for 10 years, have 3 kids under the age of 5, your spouse has gone to work all day and you wonder if you'll ever sleep again, that warm fuzzy feeling and obsession you have with someone is not what is going to get you through it and make that marriage last. When your spouse fails and hurts you [because we're all human], those butterflies in your stomach aren't going to be there, and the only passion you'll be feeling will probably be in the nature of anger.

Some people think when you refer to "those three simple words," they mean "I love you." I beg to differ. I think the three words, simple as they are, should refer to "God is love." Because He is.

"But God showed His love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for His friend."

That doesn't even begin to describe what the picture of love looks like.

But I think the point is: it's committing. It's sacrificing. It's not saying you become this person who others can walk all over, but it's not always having your way. Wanting your way. It's forgiveness. It's a laying down of rights. It's not something you simply feel. It's not saying with your mouth to anyone you know, "I love you," but showing it. It's serving. It's accepting. I could go on and on, but I think the Bible does that well enough. Especially in 1 Corinthians 13.

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."

That's only the start of it.

But we're not perfect. I'll be the first to say I don't love as I should.

I think that sometimes we get infatuated with God as well. We have a short-lived, foolish passion for Him where we feel His blessing, His goodness, Him smiling down upon us. But what's left when that infatuation fades? With Him, or with people in general?

I want to love God. I want substance in my relationship with Him. Something that is there when I don't feel anything. When I'm angry. When I'm apathetic. When I'm hurt. When I'm happy. When I'm joyful. During any emotion I feel or stage of my life.

I want to love people. To have substance in my relationship with them. I want to show the kind of love God shows, but can only do that by the grace given to me through the love He has shown me. I want to set aside the petty foolishness of infatuation and self-seeking feelings and love relentlessly.

Perhaps I am a love addict.