What is the difference between caring and loving?

ching chong: What is the difference between caring and loving?
Are the two usually intwined together? If there is a difference what acts signal the act of caring or loving (sacrificing one’s own life, etc.)? How about these acts:

Wanting the safety of the other.
Sacrificing one’s own life for someone.
Tending to someone when he or she is sick.
Jealousy over rivals.
Showing a significant change of personality as a result of that person’s doing.
Trust.
Hugging, holding hands, cuddling.

Answers and Views:

Answer by Analyst
love involves passion, erotic feelings

Answer by lalachi
The question should be caring & affection. I think that goes together.LOVE IS UNIVERSAL.

Answer by Andy
c wen u love a person u tend to care for them!!! so i guess dare shud b no difference between them!!

Answer by donnalw3
I do feel that loving and caring is intertwined. If you love someone than of course you care about them. But yes to me the difference between the two, would be a casual caring for someone. Let’s say you have a friend at work who is sick, most people say hey, I care for that person, so I am going to take time off of work and take care of them when they have a cold, flu, or something worse. But, if someone you love, family, and certain friends, than yes, you would be there for them, and help them through whatever they need. The feeling of love I feel is instinctual for you husband, your children, such a protective mood for our children, yes to me love is putting the other person first in many forms, especially the protective mode. I really think you have answered your own question in many ways. This is a very interesting question, and made me have to think. A hard thing for me to do. lol. BTW, I don’t think love has to have jealousy involved, if you have the trust with the person/people you do love.

Answer by Ysteban
Caring for somebody can be an act of Love when responding to another without wanting anything in return. You do it because you see their need, you have no idea of yourself neither any idea of what you might gain or lose, including your own life. You just do it without a thought, you do it because you are moved by the compassion inside of you,
you don’t need any reason.

Often giving of oneself and caring for others, is a practise that one can use, to take one out of one’s usual mode of only thinking about oneself or doing things for oneself. In giving we receive.

But it is often the case – because of the nature of personality, which is selfish in nature – that even caring for others or giving things, has a hidden agenda, of gaining something for oneself. It is rare that people give ‘purely’ without expecting something in return, but usually even the giving person is not conscious that they have a hidden reason. So they might see themselves as caring and giving even when they truly are not.

But even knowing this about ourselves, it should not stop us from reaching out to others that need our help and offering them our hand. So few people do that these days, everyone is just so busy or doesn’t want to be bothered. If one can open their eyes just a little bit more, you will start to see all around you – people, animals, environment – all kinds of things, that could use your loving hand. And when you give of yourself, it lifts you up, it makes you feel good. Isn’t that the best reward of all?

Betsy