Elements of True Love

1. Forgiveness: ".....is not easily provoked" I Cor. 13:5. True love is not easily provoked and when provoked; ready to forgive immediately.
2. Selflessness: Lust is always selfish, it want sex to satisfy him. Whatever happens to the other party does not concern him. True love on the other hand is selfless. It looks for the way to satisfy the other party. It makes sure she is not hurt and is ready to wait till wedding day before sex, because it is not selfish.
3. Excitement: True love looks forward to see the other party again, she is unhappy to see he goes, not because of money or sex. In fact she is ready to pay his transport fare if he has none just for him to come and say hello! If you are engaged with somebody who is not excited seeing you, he is not proud to introduce you to friends and family, know that you have not gotten a lover yet.
4. Righteousness: Purity is the hallmark of true love. It does not involve secret kissing, dark place meetings, street corner romance, illicit sex, embrace that embarrasses God, unholy fondling, necking and immoral intimacy. True love has nothing to hide, it does not have any secret; it is as bold as a lion. If holiness is lacking in that relationship of yours, then it is not true love, it is lust no matter how you feel about it. If your pastor must not know what you are doing behind close door, if your parent must not hear about what you are doing with that guy, then it is not love, it may be hard for you to agree with me, the fact still remains that, it is lust not love, because "love does not rejoice in iniquity..." I Cor. 13:6.
5. Peace: Have you lost your peace because you are in love? Have fear, guilt, regret and worry envelop you because you are deeply in love? Then it is not God's type of love, because God is not an author of confusion but of peace.
6. Fondness: If you are not fond of the person you said you love or you do not want people to know that you are in love with him, you only want her when you are behind closed doors or you only want him when calendar reads 25th day of the month because you know he will soon get his salary, then it is not genuine love.
7. Patience: Is your partner pestering you with sex? Did he say he cannot wait that he wants you now else he will drop you? Do not give in, this is evidence that he has never been in love with you, if you give in to him, he will still drop you anyway.
8. Submission: "Love does not parade itself, is not puffed up" I Cor. 13: 14. Love is ready to submit to the wish of the other party, it is not proud, it does not parade itself. It is ready to say "let's go ahead if that is how you want it".
9. Commitment: True love involves commitment of the spirit, soul and body. It gives everything into the relationship. It writes letters send e-mails, make phone calls, pay visits and gives gift. They are moved by the plight of their partners. They look forward to seeing each other. They are ready to call for reconciliation whenever there is a misunderstanding. They are deeply committed to each other.
10. Sacrifice: True love is not only committed to the other party, but also ready to make sacrifice. A university undergraduate once used her school fees and personal food allowance to pay for the medical bills of her fiance. That is sacrifice and that is love. A young lady once refused to be her friend's chief bridesmaid and used the money she would have use to buy her dress, shoes and bag to pay for her fiance school fees. That is what I call true love. Love is sacrificial.[www.articlesbase.com]