What do you know about love?

This is for all of my young friends.
I was singing an old song in my head early this morning as I was folding laundry. "Let me tell you 'bout the birds and the bees and the flowers and the trees and the moon up above... and a thing called love..." etc, etc... It's a cute song, but it got me thinking. I think a lot of teenagers are trying to teach other teenagers about love. And, I think most of them haven't got a clue. (I'm not trying to be mean, maybe you do have a clue... read on, and see what you think.)
Girls, does he bring you flowers and cute little presents for Valentine's, and take you out to dances and fun places, and tell you "you look hot"? Does he spend hours on the phone with you and want to be with you all the time? Well, that's fun, but I hate to break it to you, it's not love. Well, it's puppy love, but it's not the best kind of real love that all of you deserve. Does he love you enough to marry you and be with you forever? Not that that is what you need right now! Don't try to act married when you're not.
Does he love you enough to be a good father for your children? Does he love you enough to go to work every day and do his best to take care of you and your children? Even if it's not his dream job? Does he love you enough to buy you a house, and then spend lots of his free time fixing things, and mowing the grass, and shoveling the snow, and trimming the hedges? Does he love you enough to call you beautiful when you're not 18 anymore? or 23? or 37? or 45?
Boys---if you've made it this far, thank you so much, this is for you. Does she really love you? Does she love you enough to wash your dishes, and pick up your dirty socks? Does she love you enough to make do with less? To drive an older car, and clip coupons, and shop at Target instead of Nordstrom so she can stay home and wipe snotty noses, and read the same story 10 times a day, and watch Barney, and pay bills, and do laundry and dishes, and be happy about it? Does she love you enough to let you be you? Does she love you enough to "let" you go hunting, or fishing, or golfing--or whatever it is you like--with the guys, and not make you "pay" later?

Maybe this is not the exact scenario that fits you... maybe you girls are more excited about careers than kids (I was at your age, although I wouldn't give up being a stay-at-home mommy to my three children for any amount of money now). Maybe you guys don't identify with what I've said either, but think for a minute. What do you want? How do you see your life? Is this boy, this girl the kind of person who will be there through the good and bad times? Who will love and support you, and believe in your dreams, and help you become the best you without nagging if it doesn't happen as quickly as he/she would like it to?

Be young, have fun, enjoy your life(but don't forget to study once in a while). Be with your friends, go out, date... don't try to hurry your way through this fun, fun part of your life. Don't try to make your fun, sweet, puppy love into something serious and dramatic. Learn, grow, play, love, be happy, be good. :) (You might not think so, but good and happy are the same thing really, trust me, I know.)

My dear young friends, you have so many people thinking about you, loving you, praying for you. Even those of you who think you have no one. Somewhere out there is someone like me--and me!--that wishes they knew all of you, could give each of you a hug and tell you that I know it's hard, but you're stronger than you think you are, and you'll make it. Do you know that you are a child of God? You are His child. You are amazing! It might not feel like it sometimes, but it's true. Don't let anyone treat you as if you were less. And don't treat yourself as if you were less! Remember who you are, and make good choices. Maybe you've heard things like this from your parents. Well, it's still true. ;)