agape

I'm the first person to admit that I'm a hopeless romantic. Every day I secretly hope that Mr. Darcy will come sweep me away to Pemberly and marry me and take care of me and love me. Even though this would be incredible, I know that I have to keep at least a mild grip on reality . . . and that's where I've always had trouble.

When I was growing up, I formed my own opinions about love. Though I never believed in love at first sight, I always believed in soulmates. I proudly committed myself to the idea that once two people fell in love, they were in love forever, that there was no such thing as falling out of love. If they divorced, they obviously were never really in love in the first place.

This morning in church, my pastor preached on God's love, and I realized how wrong I've always been.

I realized that every thought I've ever had on romantic love has been based on agape love . . . God's love for us. Man's love is not God's love. Man's love could never come close to God's love.

God's love is unconditional. Never-ending. All-encompassing. Unfading. Undeserved.

God's love is not based on merit or character qualities. Mr. Darcy loved Lizzie because she was smart, funny, beautiful and caring. God loves us because we are His. The end. No questions asked. Unconditional.

Man's love is absolutely conditional. Because man's love is a choice made every day, he can choose to not love. If one person in a relationship unspeakably wrongs the other, you can bet your bottom dollar that they can fall out of love.

Man can fall in and out of love multiple times. Sure, two people can stay in love forever, but it's an everyday, conscious decision to love.

I realize this sounds hopelessly unromantic. But, again, man's love is not God's love. I disappoint God every single day, but He never stops loving me. I know the same can't be said for man.

The question now is this: Why do we seek the temporal love and affection of men over the incredible and infinite love of God?

I'm sure it would be wonderful to find a husband who loves without condition, merit or end. Wonderful, yes, but impossible.


How wonderful it is that we DO have someone who loves us unconditionally! How marvelous to know that a beautiful sunrise is painted each morning for us. How exciting that every leaf, every flower, every animal, every blade of grass, every breeze that blows through our hair speaks God's love to us.

His unconditional love.

His without-fail love.

His just-because love.

His blind love.

His unique agape love.