What comes to mind when you hear “love”?
A romantic walk on the beach with someone who 
makes your heart race and your dreams take flight? 
How about a night on the town with the group of friends 
you treasure most, sharing laughs?
Or the warmth of a tight hug from a relative 
whose home made your summer days brighter?
Maybe you think of journaling, exercising, painting,
or snuggling up to watch your favorite TV show after a long day of work. 

Perhaps all these ideas float to your mind, 
flowing by like rose petals carried in the wind, 
their sweet scent lingering behind.
That’s the beauty of love, 
its layers like a rainbow on a summer’s day: 
each shade blends together, 
casting a spectrum that exposes 
the reality of love’s diversity, 
creating a space for all who open their hearts, 
guiding us out of dark places 
like a single star in the night sky. 

Love is a symphony
of joy, peace, determination, and appreciation, 
but undertones of anxiety and doubt follow along 
in its lingering shadow. 
No love can be perfect, 
no matter how much perfection we crave. 
Yet somehow, that makes it real, 
blending with the ever-growing experiences we face.  

The power of love is compelling, 
even in its rawest ingots. 
Our blanket of comfort or a sword of strength, 
it becomes whatever we mold it into, 
versatile in all its forms. 
And once you experience its glory,
in every shape it takes, 
you will never be able to let it go. 

Editor: Shannon Hensley