In most human relationships, one gives a little more than the other, and one, perhaps, receives a little more. Because of our human nature, our background, and our individual needs, there is always that inequality in giving and receiving love. A perfectly mutual and reciprocal love is a very rare gift. Imagine what love would be like if each other both gave and received a hundred percent! But St. Augustine says that kind of perfect love exists only in God.
It's much easier for most of us to give love than to receive it. That may sound strange, but I think it's true. When we give love, we are in control. We can pick the person to love, we can decide how much love to give and we know when to love. But when we receive love, we are no longer in control. All we can do is accept the love that is offered. To a certain extent, we are helpless. And that is much, much harder.
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