Love Language

"Doodle, you're so pretty."

These are the words I heard my grandpa say to my nana this week.
Of course, when you first read that, you don't really think too much of it. The two have been married for 62 years, but under recent circumstances, it means everything. A few weeks ago, my nana tripped and broke her back. She was unable to move, and was bedridden in a hospital completely incapable of bathing herself, using the bathroom by herself, or walk for 2 weeks. While this is a terrible circumstance (and a bit gross quite frankly), I zeroed in on an observation that really left me wondering.

For those 2 weeks, my grandpa was miserable. His best friend, and the person he spent literally every hour of the day with was incapable of helping herself. I watched this 82 year old man, who is generally quiet, well rounded, and wise, experience a confusion that he's never had to face before. Once my nana was fully recovered, he realized what life without her was like, and said words that I'm sure he hasn't told her in years, "Doodle, you're so pretty."

Love is a huge thing.

In the Bible, it's our greatest rule. The two greatest commandments are entirely centered around love.

Matthew 22:36-39

³⁶"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" ³⁷Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' ³⁸This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'

In our earthly lives, love binds us together as humans. When we love each other, we want to be around one another. We get things done, and quarreling isn't an issue. If God is love, then we share that attribute of Him in our act of loving each other. We are created in His image, we are designed to love. So why are we so bitter***?

I rarely speak of relationships for a few reasons. For one, I'm a senior in high school. I get really excited about the fact that I have my entire life ahead of me. With that being said, my husband is not in high school. In my whole life, I've probably had one relationship that I think meant anything, and it was probably about a year and a half ago (yet again, maturity level probably not present). I've never said "I love you" before. No, not never never. I love my family, and my all time favorite best friends whole heartily, and I make sure they hear it every time I think about how much I love them. But when it comes to relationships, I'm saving that sentence. The words "I love you" are so big. They're the greatest commandment. It's the biggest kind of love you can have for someone (and mean it of course).

So what do I do?I dwell on the love my sweet sweet Savior has for me. I dwell in the love that us as humans have to bind together and help one another and our planet when either of them need a hand (recycle, anyone?). And of course, I wait. I wait for whoever deserves "I love you", and someone who can look at my unbathed, hospital self and say, "Doodle, you're so pretty."

***better yet, why did I get flipped off in traffic this morning?