Love really does have something to do with it…

Some of us were young adults during the era when the fabulous Tina Turner exploded with the classic song, “What’s Love Got to Do With It?”

We may even have danced and sang along to the rockin’ beat and radical lyrics; all the while celebrating with and loving Mrs. Turner for her fortitude and courage to end a long-time abusive relationship with her former spouse.

Years later with several life experiences behind us, some of us started to listen to the words of the song a little differently.

We started saying things like: Well, maybe love has something to do with it…maybe something…

Unconditional and no-strings-attached love can and will outlive us all. 

Now, this does not include, nor should it be confused with the control that is evident in the kinds of abusive relationships Mrs. Turner teaches the world about because of her personal experience.

The unconditional and freely given love we are talking about is the kind of love that is ever understanding even when we do not fully understand every bit of a situation or circumstance.

It is ever forgiving when people have mistreated us more than we ever thought we would or could handle; ever appreciating and grateful when we think we got the short end of the stick.

Ever welcoming when we feel physically or mentally exhausted and do not seem to have one bit of energy left to entertain or pay attention to someone or something; ever kind when the face we see in the reflection of a mirror looks grumpy and irritable.

Forever patient when things do not occur when or how we believe they should have occurred; ever-building up and not tearing down even though the build-up requires more of our time, talent, and focus.

We still adore Mrs. Tina Turner, and we are grateful she triumphed through tremendously difficult experiences we wouldn't wish on anyone.

But by the looks of things, unconditional love has everything to do with it when that same love is built up and worked on to last forever.

Sharon M. Biggs, M.A., is a wife, mother, and 21st Century educational leader & school district administrator who serves as Co-Chair & President of Lifeline Foundation, Inc.  This 24-year educator is also Founder, Editor, and Chief Writer of LifelineExtensions.blog.  View other published works at http://www.examiner.com/.  Contact Sharon directly for more information: smbiggs@mylifelinefoundation.org.

"Children are the globe's most precious commodity." (Terence H. Biggs, Jr. ~ 2009)