Soon, I'm going to marry my best friend.
The past two and a half years have been such a blessing. I have gotten to know Kristine in so many different ways. I love how honest she is and how even the thought of lying makes her feel guilty. I love how much she loves children and it's clear they love her too. I love how patient she is and how she's able to show long-suffering through my moments of unkindness. I love how forgiving she is, even when I don't deserve it. I love her compassion and her fervent desire to help those less fortunate than us. I love how gentle she is and how she constantly reminds me to be gentle, since naturally I'm not. I love how we enjoy similar activities, such as board games, eating out, venturing into new places, hiking, and watching the same television shows. And I love how we have the same sense of humor and how we laugh at the silliest things. There is so much to love about this woman.
I've witnessed countless people get married because they found lovable traits about their partner. But I've also witnessed countless people get divorced because those same lovable traits disappear or they begin to see the unlovable traits. Naturally, people show love when they feel loved. When they don't feel loved, they tend to not show love. Kristine and I aren't perfect. There will be moments where Kristine will struggle with being patient, gentle, forgiving, and so on. I'm sure I will have moments where I will struggle with the same. But our love isn't dependent on our emotions or circumstances.
The reason I love her and will continue to love her is because God has shown me the greatest example of what it means to love. God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). I don't deserve His love, yet He still showed it to me. I don't deserve His patience, yet He still showed it to me. I don't deserve His kindness, yet He still showed it to me. I don't deserve His forgiveness, yet He still forgave me. And this is the love that we strive to have for one another - a love that is unconditional and lasting. It is a love not dependent on our emotions, but a love that bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things and endures all things. (1 Cor 13:7)
This is the foundation for my love for Kristine. Yes, I love her for all the reasons above, but ultimately, I love her because I have been shown such a great love in God through Christ. And I find that the more we rejoice in His love, the more that His love overflows in our lives toward one another.