- Oct 24, 2000
- 29,767
- 33
- 81
<< What is love? I would call "love" the act of seeking another's best interests. Most of the time we tend to define love as the "the feeling a particular object generates in me." When I stopped focusing on my feelings and started seeking their best interests, I was better able to love my parents equally again. It is virtually impossible to change how you feel by conscious effort, but you can act in another's best interests.
Though my father was the far more difficult person, he also was the most needy. In his old age (now deceased), he reaped every seed he planted in his middle age: he was an angry, bitter, leering, lustful old man. And my wife and I sought his best interest: we took him into our home and cared for him. To whatever degree I succeeded in loving him, it was not by focusing on my feelings. Yet I discovered something. When I sincerely sought his best interests, I found my feelings taking care of themselves. >>
GREAT ANSWER!
Facebook
Twitter