65.0°,
Partly Cloudy Love Temperatures
“When you love someone you do not love them all the time, in exactly the same way, from moment to moment. It is an impossibility. It is even a lie to pretend to. And yet this is exactly what most of us demand.” These are the wise words of Anne Morrow Lindbergh.
Love may begin as “the April rose that only grows in the early spring.” But as you develop faith in the ebb and flow of life, you quickly realize that love can grow in all seasons. To insist on only the “April rose” is to shut the door to love in its many forms. In love, as in life, you need faith. Without faith, fear grows. And fear destroys. So, if you fear that love is lost, reflect on whether it may just be changing form.
“I still love him,” confides Brianna, “but I’m afraid I’m no longer in love with him.”
It was only eight months post-wedding and Brianna was harboring doubts about her marriage. “When I met Joel, I felt that I had found my soul-mate," she said. "Being the romantic I am, I immediately thought of Elizabeth Barrett Browning. I loved him to the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach. I never dreamt that my feelings would change. And so soon.”
Brianna bit her lip to hold back the tears. “I still love him; he’s my best friend. But I feel let down," she said. "We used to talk for hours on end and laugh together and plan together. Now it’s different. He spends so much time on the computer. I feel left out. And hurt. I know he loves me but it just doesn’t feel the same anymore.”
Brianna was right. It’s just not the same anymore. But what does that mean? Let’s look at 3 temperatures of love.
Love can be HOT. When lovers are in the throes of passion, it all feels so exciting and exhilarating. It’s a dream come true. It’s what romance novels, love songs and chick flicks thrive on.
Love can be WARM. Warm love is about feeling close and comfortable and cozy. Your partner truly knows you (your good side and bad), yet amazingly still loves you. Warm love thrives on open, honest communication despite disagreements that keep popping up.
