What Because I Love You Should Really Mean...

Because I love you I want for you, your own world

Because I love you I don't want to be together all the time

Because I love you I want to know how you're really feeling

Because I love you I will not be the source of everything for you, because I cannot

Because I love you I want you to have other healthy relationships 

Because I love you for you, I will not try and manipulate you into something you're not

Because I love you I want to help you grow and become a better you 

Because I love you I don't expect you to be perfect 

Because I love you that includes loving you on your bad days and respecting all of who you are

Because I love you I have your back through anything, even if that means telling you you're wrong

Because I love you I want to be your biggest fan and congratulate you on your success

Because I love you I will not be your punching bag that you can take everything out on

Because I love you I expect God and yoursself to come before me in your life

Because I love you I'm interested to know what you like and what you don't like 

Because I love you I will protect you, even if that means from your own father 

Because I love you I want to make lots of love, because that is one of love's greatest actions

Because I love you I will be your strength when you begin to waiver 

Because I love you I do not desire to keep you on a leash 

Because I love you I will try my best to show up for you when you need me

Because I love you I expect you to be honest with me

Because no matter how great of a partner I am, I'm still just a woman and I can't read you

Because I love you, I expect to receive these things back from you

Because I have first learned to love myself

Because before I was blessed with you in my life, I was learning through relationships that were predominantly one-sided.

Before you I had a big wake up call through another boy, whom I wanted to be the man for me, but I hadn't even really known myself yet.

And learning to love yourself first means respecting personal boundaries, and to not expect mutuality in a relationship would be abdicating on myself.

Because I love you does not exclude myself and only revolves around you, because I know only negative things can come from that kind of relating.

Because I love you has lovingly forced me to be with God and myself first, before ever being ready for you.

Because I love you I cannot gift unto you what I have not first gifted to myself.

Because I love you I put God before you.

Because I love you I put myself before you.

Because I love you, it is only in your best interest to not be first in my life.

Because I love you I expect you to put God first.

Because I love you I expect you to put you first, before you even think about me.

Because I love you I don't want to be your first priority, but I do expect to be a main one.

And from this empowered relating, only the best can surface.

And the best is what I want for you.

And this is Because I Love You.