Real Love

This afternoon I watched a sweet romantic comedy. I won't mention the name here as the content of the film isn't really important. It was the typical - boy sees girl, boy falls for girl, boy wins girl's heart - sort of romance. What wasn't typical way my reaction to it.

I turned it off. It wasn't romantic at all to me. It, like so many of the love songs on the radio and romance movies on TV celebrated the very beginnings of love. Our society is enamored with a romance that says, "I just met you but I love you, I want you, and I need you." I think we should celebrate a love that says, "I have seen you at your worst and I still love you. I know your wrinkles, rolls, and scars and I still want you. I will sacrifice my wants and desires to serve you." That is real love.

Real love is trading his yummy sandwhich and eating my hospital food instead. Real love is waking up early on a Sunday to be with me when the doctors round. Real love is being brave when I'm scared. Real love is holding me when I cry. Real love is believing me and forgiving me when I say I'm sorry. Real love is saying he's sorry. Real love is doing the laundry, cooking, and everything I used to do and not complaining. Real love is squishing into a hospital bed with me to watch a move for a date night. Real love is believing that I'm strong, even when I don't believe it myself.

I don't think I will ever see a movie, read a book, or hear a love song that can compare with how Jeffrey has loved me in the midst of our struggles. I think this is the truly romantic stuff that should be written up in love stories.