Dear husband,

It is I, your future wife, writing you this letter while enjoying the harmattan weather. I love writing letters, you’d get to know that for yourself soon enough, but I write you today to clarify one simple but very important matter. It’s the matter of love.

We are in a generation that uses the word ‘love’ alot, but sometimes I wonder if we really do understand its meaning. Seeing that its a word you’d hear from me alot, I thought I’d take some time to clarify exactly what I mean when I say, I LOVE YOU.

When I say I love you, its not because i have butterflies in my tummy, or because my skin tingles at your touch, nope. It’s not because I feel light headed when you whisper in my ear or because my heart races when you call my name, no, it’s something more, far more.

I love you means I respect you, as the God-given head over me, the man that’s the priest over our home, the man I must submit to. It means even when I see your weaknesses and flaws and how human you are I’d still respect you, not because you are infallible but because I love you. (Ephesians 5:33b).

I love you means I value you, there may be ten thousand finer brothers out there but you are the only one I see, not because I’m short sighted but because I chose to see no other. It means I value your opinions even when I have a better idea I’d still consider yours (even if its for a minute) because it came from you and I love you. ( Songs of Songs 5:16). 

I love you means I’d be kind to you, in the most basic of things, i would not intentionally hurt you even if  you hurt me first, not with my words nor with my actions. I’d always let you have the better portion (unless of course you insist that I have it), it’s not because I’m stupid, it’s because I love you. (1 Corinthians 13:4).

I love you means I’d tell you the truth, even when it hurts, but I’d still speak the truth in love, not to break you but to build you, because my love for you won’t allow me let you self-destruct in falsehood. I’d tell you the truth about yourself, the truth about me and the truth about us, not because it’s easy but because I love you. (Ephesians 4:15).

I love you means, I’d support you, through all lives pursuits, when challenges come I’d never be the one to point out how you didn’t do something right, in life’s battles, I’d fight with you, not against you. I’d be your biggest cheerleader and when things don’t work out, I’d sit in the mud with you till we figure it out together not because I’m trying to re-live childhood days of building mud houses, but because I love you. (1 Corinthians 13:7)

I love you means, when I fail at all the above (which I sometimes will, because the spirit is often willing though the flesh is weak), I won’t give up, I won’t stop trying, I’m going to keep learning to love you, not because you love me (which I know you do) but because Christ loved me first, and my love for you is only my best imitation of God’s love for mankind and Christ’s love for the church, so that this world can have tangible (real-life) feel of what love is. Therefore how can I do any less than love? (1 John 4:8)

When I say I love you, its a whole lot of promises I’m willing to take and sacrifices I’m willing to make, and it goes beyond me and you, to a world that really needs to understand Love.

With all my Love,
S.

#JesusRules😊