Thinking Out Loud: When Love Is More Than a Feeling
Part 2 of Two Become One: The Prelude to a Joy-Filled Marriage
The way he looked at me in that moment — with soft eyes, weather-worn hands, and not a word spoken — said more than any poem ever could.
We weren’t in a candlelit restaurant. We were in the kitchen. I had flour on my cheek and a million things on my mind. And yet, he stopped, took my face in his hands, and whispered, “You know I still fall in love with you… every single day, right?”
I laughed. I cried. And I thought to myself:
This… this is what it means to be chosen — not once, but again and again.
Because anyone can fall in love. But staying in love when life doesn’t go as planned? That’s something else entirely.
Danielle and Marcus had been married for seven years.
In the beginning, they felt chosen. Of course they did. There were flowers, playlists, whispered prayers, and promise-filled nights. But over time, the gloss wore off, and the waiting began.
They’d tried for years to start a family. There had been two miscarriages — quiet losses they both grieved in their own way. But neither ever quite said the words aloud. They just kept hoping. Trying. Believing.
Then came the final appointment. The one where the doctor didn’t leave room for interpretation:
“I’m sorry. It’s unlikely you’ll conceive naturally. If at all.”
The silence in the car ride home was different this time. Heavy. Final.
Later that evening, as Marcus reheated leftovers and Danielle scrolled her phone, she opened a group text from her cousin — the one with three boys and another on the way.
“Hey everyone! Sign-up for Little League is open! ⚾ Who’s in?”
Danielle froze. The screen blurred. Her appetite vanished. She dropped her phone, pushed her plate away, and whispered:
“I’m sorry, Marcus. I feel like I’ve failed you.”
He looked up from the stove, startled.
“Failed me?” She nodded, tears threatening to spill.
“I know how much you wanted a house full of kids. You even built that treehouse like it was only a matter of time.”
He turned off the burner and walked toward her — slowly, like he knew this was a holy moment. A turning point.
“Danielle,” he said gently, “I didn’t marry you for the children we might have. I married you because I love you. All of you.”
She looked away.
“But what if this is it? Just the two of us?”
“Then we make it enough. And maybe we adopt. Or mentor. Or pour love into the kids around us. I don’t have all the answers. But I know this — you are not a disappointment. And we are not done.”
He knelt beside her chair, steady and sure. Choosing her again.
That’s what love looks like when the wedding is long past and the weight of life starts to settle in.
Love isn’t self-sustaining. It takes work — the kind that doesn’t always feel romantic, but is always sacred.
Think about it: no matter how full you feel after Thanksgiving dinner, you’ll need to eat again. Satisfaction fades. Hunger returns. And so it is with love.
Marriage requires daily nourishment — daily intentionality. You don’t just say “I do” once. You say it again every morning — in how you show up, how you forgive, how you give.
In a perfect world, you could say:
“I love you more today than yesterday, but not as much as tomorrow.”
But the truth is, that kind of love only grows with practice.
That’s why the Bible describes love so precisely in 1 Corinthians 13 — using the Greek word Agape (pronounced ah-gah-pay).
In the Greek language, there are several words for love:
- Eros — romantic or passionate love
- Philia — deep friendship or brotherly love
- Storge — natural affection, like the love between parents and children
- Agape — selfless, sacrificial, unconditional love
Agape is the highest form of love. It’s not used for how you feel about your favorite dessert, your best friend from college, or physical attraction. It’s the word used to describe how God loves us — and how we’re called to love others, especially in marriage.
It’s no coincidence that in 1 Corinthians 13 — the “love chapter” often read at weddings — the original Greek text uses the word Agape every time.
“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. Love never fails.” (1 Corinthians 13:4–8, NIV)
Agape love is more than emotion. It’s a decision. A posture. A promise kept in the quiet places.
If you’re planning a wedding — or even hoping to one day — remember this:
Love is not a feeling you chase. It’s a commitment you cultivate.
So ask each other:
- How will we love when life doesn’t follow the script?
- Are we ready to recommit, every day, to the vows we’ll make?
And when you're ready to say “I do” to that kind of love — the kind that reflects God's heart and embraces life as it comes — let’s talk.
Contact Notary Near Me Florida today. I’m an ordained wedding officiant, authorized to perform weddings in Florida and other states where ordained ministers are permitted to officiate. I also offer vow renewal ceremonies for couples looking to reaffirm their commitment and celebrate the journey they’ve taken together.
Let’s create a ceremony that tells your love story — one that starts with intention and leads to legacy.
And if you missed last week’s post, don’t skip the foundation:
Want a Marriage That Lasts? For Best Results, Follow God’s Directions
Because anyone can fall in love…
But it’s the choosing, the re-choosing, the showing up again and again — that’s what transforms a promise into a lifetime.
That’s what makes love more than a feeling. That’s what makes it a Joy for a Lifetime.
