Do you know what you mean when you say “I love you” to any person or animal?
Our 12 year-old Morkie has been very ill recently. In fact, we almost lost him.
Unfortunately, Simba became ill while my husband was out of town, and my Vietnam veteran husband who has PTSD is very attached to Simba.
I spent the past week holding Simba and telling him, “I love you”. Also, I sang to him and put water into his mouth when he refused to drink.
When I told Simba I loved him, he seemed to understand what I meant. He would look at me, lean his head against me, and lick me to let me know he loved me too.
What did Simba understand that I meant?
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First, he understood that I put his needs and feelings above my own.
This week, I had many things I needed to do, but Simba needed comfort. So I put aside all of the things I needed to do and took care of Simba, even though he could do nothing for me.
In my heart, love means putting the other’s needs first.
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Second, he understood that I completely accept him the way he is at the moment.
Simba knew that I accepted him the way he was, even though he was in poor health. I was not trying to change his health for my benefit or even for my husband’s, but for his own well-being instead.
In my heart, love means that you completely accept the other.
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Third, he understood that my acceptance is unconditional.
He knew that I would put his needs first no matter how arduous it was for me to meet them, that there were no conditions on my love for him.
In my heart, love is unconditional.
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Fourth, he understood that I expect nothing in return from him.
Simba sensed that I wanted nothing in return from him when I was caring for him and loving him. He seemed to understand that I loved him for the sake of loving him.
When I love someone, I do not look to him or her to fulfill my needs, love me back, and all of those things. If I was looking for that, then I would just be using others.
In my heart, love is completely selfless.
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Fortunately, love along with good medical care has helped Simba and he seems to be improving at the moment.
What do you mean when you say “I love you”?
Let the encouraging words in these bobbiejrae posts help you
soar like an eagle above life’s storms.
Love creates peace.
It also means letting go.
You’ve been tagged–you’re It!
The secret to being loved back…