Some people have an idea of what love should look like..."Movie Love!" Waxing poetic about how much they love you..."you complete me," etc. Or expensive gifts, trips, diamonds galore! But let's face it...there's no one writing a script or feeding lines to your loved one off-camera. There isn't a director guiding every placement of the hands, head tilt for the perfect kiss. Real life looks a bit different. But that's not a bad thing...
My husband and I have different love languages. He doesn't know the script in my head, nor do I know the script in his. We try really hard to communicate honestly and effectively. We try to listen to what the other needs. We try to show in our own ways how much we care. We even try to show in their ways how we feel. And most of the time, we do just fine. I think on any given day, we would both say we feel loved and respected by each other. We don't always acknowledge every effort or action. But we love each other deeply.
Every so often, though, real life love blows me away. For example, today, my incredible husband loved me so well and unexpectedly! The background to this saga is as follows: It's frickin' cold here! So cold, in fact, that school is closed today. No snow, just sub-zero temperatures. This means I have an extra son around today. (Not a bad thing, just a thing. I love my kiddos!) The second factor playing into today is that one of our other sons was diagnosed yesterday afternoon with a double ear infection and pink eye. (OUCH!!) This means no gym today. I love exercising in the morning and the boys love playing there. This gym time is part of our routine and makes us all happy. Needless to say, gym time was out... but my hubby is awesome.
He woke me up early enough for me to go work out before he had to leave for work (upon my request.) But he didn't just wake me up. As he roused me, he said, "I turned the heater on in the bathroom and your coffee is warm. I'll warm up the car for you when you're ready." Our bathroom is always ice-cold, especially on a day this frigid. It was 4:45 in the morning. He didn't even have to agree to deal with the kiddos while he was trying to get himself ready for work. Honestly, him just agreeing to let me go work out was so sweet and I was so grateful. But the fact that he considered me, knew me so well, and thought of ways to show how much he loves me and appreciates what I do overwhelmed me. The coffee, the warmed bathroom, the car all heated up...this is better than movie love!
This isn't "happily ever after" in theory after the curtain has dropped or the credits have rolled. This is in the trenches, every day, you are important to me, I will love you today and forever, kind of love. His love is active. His love isn't lip service. Thank you, Lino, for your real life love. I feel so cherished by you. So taken care of by you. I love you with my whole heart.