20 years of love ❤️

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, 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 13:4-8

When I think of love, the first thing that always comes to my mind is this particular verse in the Bible. Why? It is because indeed love is patient and kind. When someone truly loves another, he/she is willing to wait for the right time, even if that means waiting for months, years or even decades. When someone truly loves another, he/she does think of the other’s welfare; he or she is selfless, honest and forever faithful.

On the other hand, according to Wikipedia, love refers to a variety of different feelings, states, and attitudes that ranges from interpersonal affection to pleasure. It can refer to an emotion of strong attraction and personal attachment.

But what really is love?

After a thousand (or even more) times of pondering, I can say that there are approximately 1, 013, 913 words in the English language but I could never string any of them together to explain what love is. Well, yes, for some (and I might agree to them), love is free. You can’t make someone love you, nor can you prevent it. Love is boundless and unexpected. You might love someone you don’t like the first time you met him/her. It is bigger than you are. You cannot dictate when, where and how love expresses itself but you can choose to surrender to it but I tell you, after hearing different love stories in my lifetime, in the end, love is so strong that it unpredictably strikes you like lightning.

Every now and then, you meet someone and it’s obvious that the two of you, on some level, belong together. You become friends, then best friends, then lovers. You understand one another because you feel that you’re in love and when that strong emotion blooms to something even more meaningful, there go the talks of getting married.

Marriage, for me, is only a matter of law, rules and other rights that are related to court. What’s important to me is that when a man and a woman vowed to face each and every day with their hands together, and their spare hands raised to worship God, for better, for worse, in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer as long as they both shall live. One can buy loyalty or companionship but love itself cannot be bought. One can have a partner but he or she is not guaranteed to have a husband/wife. One can have a best friend and yet he or she may be lucky to find the same qualities of a best friend in his/her husband/wife. Some may believe it’s a coincidence, fate or just luck but I think otherwise; it is and has always been God’s will. Marriage, for me, is a covenant: both made in front of each other and in front of God.

As a 19-year old lady, I have always observed my parents on how they treat each other, if it’s with love or something else. Quarrels are undeniably inevitable in every relationship — what more in married couples? But as I have always seen in my parents, they most often than not bring their quarrels in bed. As much as possible, they make up fast. That’s one I admire the most on them. Love, for them, is stronger than pride. I asked them how they maintain their happy marriage and one word just left their mouths: Love. As I think of the right words to get back at them, I suddenly realized that it really is love. Even if they’re not teenagers anymore, I can see that they’re not ashamed of being so lovey-dovey in public. They still celebrate their anniversaries (both civil and church wedding) and even their boyfriend-girlfriend anniversary in new and different places. Most of the time, they bring us because they value the importance of family; that’s why I also had the share of experiencing amazing new things in different parts of the country. They are not ashamed of still saying "thank you" and really appreciating the simple things done by the other. Heck, they're not the type of couple who cares for the material things. They'd rather choose the special moments instead.

Majority of the married couples nowadays forget to spend time with their husbands and wives because they’re too busy doing other things. I believe that a relationship with God at its center is the best one a couple could ever have. God is the One that helps every husband and wife to get through the obstacles in life. In the movie, I’ve seen that they don’t believe in the One above who died for all of us. My parents have always taught and still living on their own teachings that we must praise God together. That’s the best thing about my parents; they don’t forget to thank God for everything that has happened to them and maybe that’s why God has been blessing their marriage ever since.

To cap these all off, I think the best part of being in love is when you just love a person and be happy about it. It’s not about owning a relationship; it’s just about being happy because you know you love someone. It’s about feeling no guilt because you know you didn’t trample on anybody’s relationship and you just love selflessly. I’ll end this with what I think and believe is the true essence of love…

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16

Happy 20th Civil Wedding Anniversary to the best pair God has ever joined together, to the husband and wife who never forget to say "I love you" before ending a phone call, to one of the world's wonderful soulmates, to my parents! You both still are the epitome of the best human love for me! I love you beyond words and I am lucky and blessed with God's grace to have such loving parents! Cheers to more adventures, late night cravings, & family bondings! I love you two always, in all ways.

Love,

Mags (okay, let's include Moi and Antz too lol)