true love

When did I first understand the meaning of love? That’s a good question. I would say it was when I was married for almost a year. Keep in mind, being married is different from having a boyfriend or girlfriend. One does not understand that until they are married because when you are married you live with that person day in and day out. Let’s go back a minute and define the meaning of love. Love is sticking with someone even when you don’t feel like it. Love is doing little things for someone “just because” and love is total commitment to someone. For me, that someone is and always will be, my husband.
I can give you more examples of how being married to my soul mate has taught me the true meaning of love. I asked my mom once how she stayed married to my dad for over twenty years and she said something I will never forget. She said I chose to every day. I choose to every day. What a simple, yet wise and insightful answer. Now, as a wife, whenever I have an argument with my husband, I remember her words.
Here is another example how I have learned the meaning of true love through my marriage. Like I said earlier, love is doing little things for someone “just because.” My better half doesn’t like onions. So, when I cook, I use onion powder instead of actual onions. In addition, he doesn’t get excited about cards. So, for Valentine’s Day, instead of buying him a new card, I recycled the one from last year instead.
Honestly, I never thought I would enjoy cooking or having a dog. Yet, I have come to learn I like both of these things very much. Cooking a meal for my hubby and I makes me feel good and it’s an act of love. As for having a dog, Mike gave me this gift, showing me true love in a different way. By taking care of our canine, feeding her, taking her for walks, and playing with her, he has literally acted it out.
Understanding the concept of true love has made me understand myself better as well. Through the difficult times in my marriage, I have learned I am far stronger than I thought I was. I have more compassion than I thought I had, and I have more patience then most.
Simple acts, wise words, preparing meals, and taking care of an animal are not extraordinary things. Yet, they have all taught me a valuable lesson. They have taught me the meaning of true love, and that is something I will never forget.