I know what "self-sacrificing" means in English; but to see it expressed in another language gave me a new and deeper perspective than I have ever had. The Spanish word misericordia means "self-sacrificing." When I look at the word, I see three parts: one, the root ser which means being or existence; two, although I do not know this to be true in Spanish, mis- in English is usually a negative prefix (meaning whatever follows is not true); and three cordia , which reminds me of the Spanish word for heart, corazón . The rough interpretation that immediately entered my head was "a heart that is willing to give up its existence." For me, that was powerful. The Bible expresses it this way: Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13) Self-sacrificing love is a love that cares so much about you that I do not care about me anymore. It is a love that feels that your life, even without me in it, is more...

One who holds the elements of true love (based on 1 Corinthians 13 and 1 John 4) is: Patient Kind Non-envious  Humble Couth (not obnoxious or obsessed) Unselfish/Servile Even-tempered Pure-minded Righteous-loving Honest Unfearing Perfect (in God alone) Eternal God--  all good and perfect relationships of any sort include God Lust, my friend, is the opposite of these characteristics:  Impatience Meanness Envy/Competition Arrogance Obsession Selfishness Bad Temper Lewd Mind Love of Wrong-doing Deceit Fear Imperfection/Self-consciousness Temporary No Divine Strength