The real meaning of love

THESE WORDS COME FROM THE TRUTH IN THE LIFE OF A LIFE LONG COUPLE

What does it mean to "be with" another person?  Sit down, relax, turn your eyes upon his/her face, look into their eyes, receive the feelings emanating from their person, listen to what is there even before they speak, embrace them body,mind, spirit, emotion. Now you can enter their space and be with them as they walk through whatever is their valley now. I sit on the bed beside her, look her in the eyes and see her pain. I listen to her words about wanting to be better, wondering about the pain in her legs or some other place in her body. 

I put my arm around her and hug. She wants me near. I want to be near. Love heals in its own strange ways, not necessarily the body. "Compassion can never coexist with judgement because judgement creates distance and distinction, which prevents us from really being with the other." (Henri J.M. Nouwen) There have been times in the past when I was judgmental toward someone and unable to really feel compassion. My anger at their condition short-circuited compassion which would have done them more good than my judgment. Seems to me Jesus was compassionate especially toward those who were being judged by others. Compassion flows from heart of God and transforms the moment, the hard heart.