What does "Love" mean to you?

HaPpY VaLeNtInE's DaY!

I asked the question "What does 'Love' mean to you?" to my 2nd grade class this Valentine's Day morning.  The result was many precious and innocent answers:  kindness; being kind, a good friend; a best friend; my Mommy; my family; my pets; etc.  So, I asked myself the same question, "What does 'Love' mean to me?" and I began reflecting.

By all accounts I have lived/am living an extremely Blessed life.  I grew up with two parents who loved each other and who loved my brother and me.  My parents were told by two doctors that they would never have children, and my Mom and Dad always referred to my brother and me as their "Double Miracles".  Yes, my parents loved us.  I know this because we genuinely enjoyed spending time together as a family, we said our "I love you's" and we always had/have each other's best interest at heart.  My parents worked hard to provide so many extras that they grew up without.  They oftentimes did without themselves and sacrificed to provide for my brother and me.  We lived in a nice house, went to great schools, drove nice cars, etc etc etc.  I loved my life.  My parents sacrificed so that I could have my dream wedding in 1996 to the man of my dreams.  Now Todd and I are living the same Blessed life with our two precious Boys.  I love my life.  Then, my thoughts immediately turned to our daughter's birth mother.

These days my thoughts are often consumed with every aspect of our adoption....when/how/where will we meet our daughter?....what will she look like?....etc., etc., etc.  But today, I could not stop thinking about Ava Grace's birth mother.  I cannot imagine the selfless love that is necessary to recognize, acknowledge and accept that your child, the child that has grown inside of your body for nine long months, will be better off living and being raised by another family.  I stand in awe of each and every birth mother's decision to give the gift of adoption.  What amazing love.   What pure, unselfish, often heart-wrenching undeniable love.

To our daughter's birth mother:  Even though we do not know you yet, I want you to know that "Thank You" is completely inadequate for the act of love you will choose in entrusting your daughter to us.  We will love her as our own, just as if she had been born from my body as our two boys were.  All three equally loved.  We love Ava Grace even though we have not met her yet.  We love you for giving Ava Grace the gift of life and for loving her enough to let us love her too.  Sacrificial love.  This sacrificial love in many ways reminds me of God's love for all of us.  He sent only Son to live among us, teach us and die so that we may have eternal life. 

So for me, love, true love, means sacrifice.  Thank you to my Mom and Dad for being my first living examples of real sacrificial love.  Thank you God for your ultimate sacrificial love for me and for all who choose to accept it.  I have been Blessed as a result of of sacrificial love, and I will be a Blessing because of it.