Love is...?

In discussing William Shakespeare's sonnet 116, "Let me not the marriage of true minds," I find that I am asking myself what is love and what are the different forms of love? Is it true? Does it withstand trials? How will I know if I am in love?
Love is the essence and obsession of all of the world. Our movies our culture is based off this feeling. everyone is searching whether they know it or not and if they deny they are searching for love, love is on the search for them. To love a person is something unconditional and pure. You are willing to lose yourself to be part of that person, to grow with that person. Love is so different for everyone but is similar to all that it is a strong feeling that is used to describe subjects with passion and meaning. Love conquers all things, restores all things...it goes above and beyond expectations. But what do I know? I am only a child. It is true I have been loved by my parents and an omnipotent and awesome God that has created me.
So maybe I do know what it is to be loved, but loving others...that is the hard part. "Love is not love which alters when alteration finds," meaning if life gets you down and things get tough, love will remain true, never be shaken and remain strong and firm. Love drives the human soul, controlling our emotions making us confused in our own desires. Love cannot be controlled but harnessed, maybe saved for a later date. There are different kinds of love. Love can be superficial and driven by lust and on the other side be a pure sign of respect, fear and gratitude. Love can hurt and scar you, love can restore and raise you to places you never imagined. But what do I know? I am only a child.

"Listening is understanding
and finding compassion
love is the action of soul satisfaction
a tongue can make wishes and also fine kisses
taste a sweet cake and also cast disses
but nothing compares to the voice from within
without it we might just be mannequins
up to no darn good shenanigans
learn to be skillful movers of the stones
that block the heart and turn humans to clones
learn to forgive, set free the bones
touch with your flesh, take off the rubber gloves
love like your life depends on it
because it does."
-Michael Franti and Spearhead from "Speaking of Tongues"