ghost_warrur
New member
- Dec 12, 2008
- 10
- 0
- 1
In modern Western culture, "love" has been reduced to a some smarmy feeling of infatuation. This idea is only further propagated by soap operas and so many "romantic comedies" and the like. REAL love, however, is measure by actions...by sacrifice...rather than just "feelings". Several months ago I got married in Hawaii. While I was there I met a man, a genuine native tribal Hawaiian from "the small island" who shared with me the story of his grandfather. Long story short, his grandfather's wife died. In response, his grandfather gouged his own eyes out, rather than risk ever being attracted to another woman. While I don't condone this action and it is clearly a VERY extreme response, I can't help but respect the "heart" of the action...the loyalty and resolve to honor his spouse that led him to this. In our culture, even after one has taken the vows, lusting after others seems to be a completely condoned and even encouraged national past-time. People in our culture are just soft, weak, and largely oblivious to what true commitment means. While the "feeling" of being in love has (to some degree) faded from my marriage, it is (not in spite of, but rather, BECAUSE of this) only more and more that I have learned to truly love and appreciate my wife. Now that I'm no longer compelled by infatuation to do the sweet and selfless things that I used to do (I realize now that they were not so selfless. I was trying to woo her for my own benefit), I'm learning what it means to truly do them for HER, and not just for ME. To quote Biblical scripture, which you may or may not regard with any credence, "Love is patient. Love is kind. It does not envy. It does not boast. It is not proud. It is not rude. It is not self-seeking. It is not easily angered. It keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, ALWAYS PERSEVERES". 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. 