Reblog: Real Love is a Choice

Today is Valentine’s Day, and I must admit this year’s “holiday” feels a bit more special than it has in the past as I look forward to quality time spent with my One. I used to be one of those girls who either shrugged her shoulders at the romantic celebrations happening around her or banded together with a girlfriend or two to strong-arm the Hallmark-inspired-necessity that Galentine’s was just as important. V-Day has never been a favorite of mine, but I suppose that’s because it has been quite a few years since I’ve had a true Valentine.

Talking with G over this past weekend in anticipation of not actually spending Valentine’s together, the topic of love and choosing to love one another came up. (Side note: It is always so remarkable to me to hear this man talk about his feelings for me — even though it happens on a daily basis — and have faith he means every word he is saying.) The chat was amazing and only reiterated the key reasons as to why I’m marrying this man. Then I come across this excellent article written by Seth Adam Smith and #YASSS! This could not be more on point, my friends, and I must do my part to share Seth’s wisdom across the blogosphere.

So without further ado, here is how I plan to live my marriage…

Is There Such a Thing as a Fairy Tale Ending?

My wife and I have known each other since high school but didn’t date until much later. We had only dated a couple of weeks before we realized that we were madly in love and wanted to get married.

I was all for it! I even suggested a spontaneous, immediate wedding in Vegas. (Seriously). Kim, however, was a bit more practical about the whole thing. She wanted to take the time to plan it all out.

I felt deflated. “We’re so different,” I said. “You like to plan, while I like to be spontaneous.”

Kim’s eyes widened. “I can be spontaneous!” she said, hurriedly. “I can totally be spontaneous. You just have to tell me in advance when you want to be spontaneous, and I will write it down in my planner…”

I gave her a strange look. She was totally serious! Clearly, Kim did not understand the meaning of spontaneity.

We must choose to love our partner just as they are. 

Embrace the Imperfections

Funny as it may seem, the more I think about this conversation the more I’ve come to realize that planning to love someone—or choosing to love someone—is actually one of the most beautiful things about love.

I’ve heard it said that real love is an unconditional commitment to an imperfect person.

And it’s true.

When all the butterflies have fluttered away and your wedding day becomes a distant memory, you will discover that you’ve married someone who is just as imperfect as you. And they, in turn, will come to learn that you have problems, insecurities, struggles, quirks—and body odor—just as real as theirs!

Then you will realize that real love isn’t just a euphoric, spontaneous feeling; it’s a deliberate choice, a plan to love each other for better and worse, for richer and poorer; in sickness and in health. Of course, you don’t choose who you’re attracted to, but you definitely choose who you fall in love with and (more importantly) who you stay in love with.

“We come to love not by finding a perfect person, but by learning to see an imperfect person perfectly.” – Sam Keen.

Love is About Choosing to Walk the Path Together

Our society places a lot of emphasis on feelings. We are told that we should always follow our feelings and do whatever makes us happy. But feelings are fickle and fleeting.

Real love, on the other hand, is like the north star in the storms of life; it is constant, sure, and true. Whenever we’re lost and confused, we can find strength in the love that we have chosen.

Besides, life already offers us plenty of spontaneity: rejection, job loss, heartache, disappointment, despair, illness, and a host of other problems. We simply can’t abandon ship every time we encounter a storm in our marriage. Real love is about weathering the storms of life together.

When my grandma was in her fifties, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis; a degenerative disease that disrupts the body’s ability to communicate with its nervous system. Within a few short years, Grandma had lost the ability to walk and was confined to a wheelchair. Grandpa, who was then the chief of police, retired two years earlier than planned in order to take care of Grandma. He helped her do everything—from getting around the house and visiting the doctor, to helping her take her medicine and bathe.

True love withstands the tests of time.

In speaking about my grandma, Grandpa once told my mom, “It hurts me to see her like this. You know, when I got married I thought that everything would be smooth sailing. I never imagined that I would have to help her change her catheter every day. But I do it and I don’t mind it — because I love her.”

Committing to Love

Love is so much more than some random, euphoric feeling. And real love isn’t always fluffy, cute, and cuddly. More often than not, real love has its sleeves rolled up, dirt and grime smeared on its arms, and sweat dripping down its forehead. Real love asks us to do hard things — to forgive one another, to support each other’s dreams, to comfort in times of grief, or to care for our family. Real love isn’t easy — and it’s nothing like the wedding day — but it’s far more meaningful and wonderful.

Real love isn’t always easy. But it’s worth it.

I recently came across this wonderful quote:

No one falls in love by choice, it is by chance. No one stays in love by chance, it is by work. And no one falls out of love by chance, it is by choice. – Unknown

Whenever my wife and I run into a problem in our marriage, we do our best to choose love.While we’re certainly not perfect, the love we share today is more real and more wonderful than anything we had ever anticipated.

So, whatever spontaneous storm may come our way, I plan to continue loving my wife.

If you truly love someone (and they truly love you), commit to that love and plan on it being hard work.

But also plan on it being the most rewarding work of your life.

Written by Seth Adam Smith on Thursday February 9th, 2017. Find the original post here.