Real Love ... What is it?

Today, I officiated the marriage vow renewal for a couple James and I had the honor of coaching two years ago. This couple, along with their four children and a host of family and friends celebrated 10 years of marriage. On the surface, 10 years may not seem huge to some, but trust me when I say, this is huge. It's huge because the celebration wasn't about the survival of a legal marriage, it was all about the survival of a real, spiritual love. The difference is that some people stay legally married for years, but do not love. They go through the pomp and circumstance of appearing to give and receive real love, but deep in their hearts are roots of unforgiveness, self-centeredness, and sadness.

Real love suffers long and is kind; does not envy, does not parade itself, is not puffed up, does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil, does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Real love never fails.

Traditional marriage vows are centered around the expression of real love when a man and woman promises to love the other through the good and bad that life may bring. However, most couples fall short on executing the promise of real love.

I've coached enough couples to see first hand the negative affects of popular culture on the old and the young. A culture that promotes the attitude of 'What have you done for me lately', and 'I can do bad all by myself', has yielded a self-serving culture which gives little thought to God's definition of love as it is described in 1 Corinthians 13.

Thankfully, the couple we witnessed the 10th year marriage vow renewal moved beyond the momentary disappointments and setbacks that come to all of us whether we're married or single. Because of their willingness to accept God's love and teachings on real love, they have built a foundation on which their four children can experience and observe real love.

Real love isn't always roses. It isn't always hardship, either. It is a commitment to remain consistent in giving love, similar to how God loves, regardless of the situation or circumstance, because Real Love Never Fails!

For more information on how to love your spouse from a heart of Real Love, read my book, What To Do After You Say I Do at:

http://www.amazon.com/What-Do-After-You-Say/dp/1403370990/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1235325254&sr=8-1

Enjoy Marriage!

Yvette