Thursday, February 14, 2013

Real Love: The inestimable value of forgiveness



Our culture glamorizes young love. And, of course, when you’re young and in love, you might not notice this imbalance. When you’re young and in love, everything feels fresh and new. And those old fuddy-duddies down the pew at church? You could teach them a thing or two about the spark of romance, baby!

Time and experience wear down snarky attitudes like this (an attitude I certainly had at times as a dating, engaged, and newly married young adult). So now, 13 years into marriage, I declare that pictures like THIS one ought to be the ones gracing the magazine covers, rather than glitzy girls in gorgeous bridal gowns or hot-bodied 20-year-olds smooching on the beach. THIS is what I admire.

THIS is what I want to be someday.

Marriage isn’t easy....


... insight from Sacred Marriage:

“Romantic love has no elasticity to it. It can never be stretched; it simply shatters.

 Mature love, the kind demanded of a good marriage, must stretch, as the sinful human condition is such that all of us bear conflicting emotions.”

Married love – mature love –
is more enduring and expansive
than “romantic love.”...

...I accept you as a human being – the real you.”

It’s a love that is grateful for receiving a similar acceptance from one’s spouse.

It’s a love that learns to prize kindness and laughter and a treasure-trove of memories.

That recognizes the inestimable value of forgiveness and daily grace.

It’s a love that fosters “bursts of brilliance”
and is also content and even joyous
in the gift normal, everyday,
un-brilliant life together.

See original posted at  Kelli B. Trujillo

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