“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” ― Lao Tzu
Love changes us. It causes us to do things we wouldn’t normally do.
Andrew Lloyd Weber, the wonderful composer, understood the significance of love. He once penned these lyrics:
Love, Love changes everything:
Hands and faces; Earth and sky.
Love, Love changes everything:
How you live and how you die.
I can also attest to the fact that love changes us—that people who are in love follow through with actions they never would have imagined.
When I was in college, my interests were narrow. I liked sports… well, and video games. But mostly sports. I enjoyed playing them. I enjoyed watching them on television. I enjoyed attending sporting events at every level: high school, college, professional. It didn’t matter the level and it didn’t matter the sport. I loved being there with the crowd, the teams, the atmosphere, the competition. It was what I loved to do with my time and my money.
But my wife, who I began dating at the time, enjoyed different things. For example, she liked the opera—which holds very little in common with a basketball game I might add. But she loved it. As a result, it wasn’t long before I attended. Additionally, I researched operas coming to town, I researched seating and prices, I purchased tickets, and I learned to appreciate the theater. I did it because I loved my wife. And love changes us. It causes us to do things we wouldn’t normally do.
In addition to the opera, I have visited in-laws on major holidays. I have sat on benches in women’s clothing stores. I have given up my umbrella during rainstorms. I have put a Stevie Wonder CD in my car’s CD player. I have spent my life’s savings on a wedding ring. And I have committed the rest of my life for richer or poorer in sickness and in health to one person, my wife, Kim. My love for her has changed me forever.
Now that I have children, I have seen my love for them change me as well. As a result, you may find me curled up in a little ball hiding in a closet waiting for my daughter to find me. You may find me curled up on a pink bed thoroughly engaged in a Junie B. Jones book. Or you may find me spending an evening at the kitchen table working on 4th grade geometry. Again, things I wouldn’t normally do.
But I do them today because I love my kids and I love my wife. And love changes everything. May it find opportunity to change you.
Image: dprotz
Sandra Pawula says
Love takes us out of ourselves, doesn’t it? And that’s where joy is found. This is a beautiful reminder.
Alison says
Thanks for a smile today :)
Beth says
Perusing Facebook, I was disillusioned to see so many angry political posts and then there was this message! I had been thinking I should call our elderly neighbor and check in as her cat passed recently and she has been sad, but I was delaying because I wasn’t sure I was able to handle it just now. When I saw your quote, I gathered courage and called – it wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be – and it was good. I think I helped cheer her up. So I just thought I would let you know of the impact that you had in our little world here! Thank you for your inspiring posts everyday! :) Thank you also for being open and welcoming in your posts to those that may not share the details of your faith, but share the spirit of your faith!
bluffbear says
You are delightful to read.
Thank you.
Hellen says
This post is so timely for me! Thanks. :)
Joy @ Joyfully Green says
Well said. I have a good friend whose husband doesn’t like doing the “kid things.” He’d rather be golfing and playing hockey with his pals. When he complained that riding on the swan boats at an amusement park with his kids wasn’t fun, his wife reminded him: “That ride wasn’t about what YOU like.” And when my husband and I start feeling like it’s not so much fun if our 5-year-old climbs into bed with us at 4 in the morning, we have to remind ourselves that she’ll only want to snuggle up with her parents for so long before it’s not “cool” anymore. And so we snuggle up with her a little bit closer.
Lynne says
Love is why I have a new life.
Love is why ” things” are not important to me anymore.
Love is dusting and cleaning my son room every week although he moved out 3 years ago.
Love is a good time for me on Saturday night is watching Les Miserables with my 13 year old who has the flu.
Love is saying good night and good morning to my husband although he died in 2011.
tVM says
The final and most beautiful line in the musical Les Miserables: “To love another person is to see the face of God.”
Amy says
Beautiful! Love does change everything :)
Dan Garner says
The larger our love, the larger ourselves.
Dan @ Zen Presence