If you ask anyone who really knows my heart and soul to its depth, what my favorite phrase is, I can assure you that they will utter the words “Love conquers all.”

I remember being very young when I first read 1 Corinthians 13. I read that chapter over and over again and somewhere deep inside me a seed was planted. That seed was watered year after year with abundant hugs, kisses and adoration from my family. Every word of affirmation from my mother sprouted another leaf, every selfless Sacrifice from my dad shined like the sun on my tree. Every word of wisdom from my brother ( when we weren’t fighting like cats and dogs) gave birth to fruits of fulfillment. It grew and grew, as the roots of that tree dug deep within my Soul, nourished by my family and above all by my Faith in God. “Love is Kind”, “Love is Patient” “Love always protects” and “it’s not easily angered.” The words were etched all over this Tree of mine, growing stronger and stronger till it filled my whole heart. That’s when the phrase gave birth in my Soul, “Love conquers all.” To me, as long as there was Love, Nothing could ever hurt me. I was a superwoman, with this tree of Love as my super power

Until the day when my heart broke for the first time. It felt like someone took an Ax and chopped my tree down till nothing remained but the stump. Everything I believed Love to be was destroyed in me. My fragile, immature mind, could not comprehend the pain and could not understand the loss. I forgot about all the effort it took for my family to carefully give life to my Love from a young age. Instead I sat at the Stump in my heart and wept daily, at the demise of everything that was built. I was sure that this was it. Wisdom was a foe and wrath seemed to be my friend. I self destructed. Completely…wholly.

At my lowest, darkest moment, I opened up to 1 Corinthians 13. As I started reading this passage daily, the stump slowly began to rise again, coming back to life. It started sprouting leaves from the Words my mother spoke into my ear. Growing stronger day by day as my Father’s sacrifices shined brightly on my life, to help me get out of my rut. My brother shared his insight on life with me everyday, and the fruits of wisdom started slowly appearing again. This tree of Love grew and grew again inside me flourishing with the Love of my family and above all nourished by the Grace of my God, until it stood tall again.

It took a long time for me to realize that no matter how many times I got chopped down to a stump, by failures and rejection, this Heart of mine could never give up on Love. The roots that grow deep within my heart are intertwined with the ventricles of my Soul and are too strong to be destroyed. They are constantly nourished by amazing, unconditional Love. No matter what came, what comes and what may come my way, I know I have the strength in me to conquer it all with the Love I hold in me. No amount of pain from the past can ever destroy my belief. I know, Until the last breath leaves my body, I will Love fiercely, selflessly and relentlessly…because I am loved so.

This year so far has been one of the most profound exploration of Love. As new branches grew towards the sky reaching for the stars, stronger roots dug their way past so much fear and anxiety to take hold of a future, I so eagerly look forward to. There are many days when I struggle with the temptation to uproot this new chapter and compromise what God has already conquered, but that still voice within me reminds me that love conquers all. I’m beginning to Love harder, love despite the downfalls and Love beyond my own strength. I’ve been educated that Proper Love sometimes requires coming to the edge of destruction, in order to create stronger roots within us. It’s not until we prune away the past, that we can give life to a flourishing tree of authentic, raw Love.

Last but not least, I cannot wait for a day when I have a little one of my own. I will watch with eager anticipation as she or he opens up their Bible to read 1 Corinthians 13. I will sit next to him or her and gently water the seed that is planted in them by the Word of God.

“Love Conquers All”