“Let there be spaces in your togetherness
And let the winds of Heaven dance between you..
Love one another but make not a bond of love
Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls
Sing and dance together and be joyous but let each …one of you be alone,
Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.”

~Gibran

As I sat there, pushing the food around on my plate, I listened intently to the words flowing from his mouth. He smiled and the corners of his eyes creased ever so slightly and I realized just how wonderful he really is. I do this sometimes, just sit and watch him. I study every angle of his face making sure I remember everything about him… the color of his eyes, the way he smiles, his laugh, his facial expressions, the sound of his voice. I can’t believe sometimes that he is mine, that he has chosen to love me. I mean that’s what real love is anyway, a choice. A state of mind that comes from time and experience together with someone. It’s about forming a partnership, a friendship with another person and creating an environment where two people can support each other through all the ups and downs of life. Now, don’t get me wrong I’m also madly in love Mr. L but I think love that last a lifetime, is more about love that exists in the in between moments. In the day to day routine business of life, through the mundane and monotonous. It is even in these moments, I can sit across a table from him and say to him “I Love You” and really truly mean it. Because let’s be real, life is not always some overarching, high sweeping love story. Those types of things only happen in the movies and truthfully is only one small facet of what love truly means. Love is something that grows over time when it is nurtured and protected. We have definitely had our “growing pains” over the years but I can honestly say we have worked hard for the love we share because it is special to us. I shake my head sometimes at some of the things I’ve done in the past that have jeopardized our love. I was foolish and naive. Fortunately, God has blessed Mr. L with the right set of characteristics and the exact personality needed to “deal” with me. Loving someone can be hard, it takes a lot of active work but it has filled my life with so much joy and happiness. He makes me laugh until I can’t breathe. He calls me on my crap. Pushes me forward when I feel like I can’t move. Shows me he loves me when the world feels like it’s closing in. Feeds me when I can’t afford to eat. Listens to me when I need to talk. Consoles me when my heart is aching. Plays with me when I want to act like a kid. Watches movies with me that he doesn’t want to see. Prays with me when my faith feels shaken. He makes sacrifices for me. My cup runneth over, my heart is full… so this is what love really is.

~Saadia

Photo courtesy of Aragon Photography