I feel as though we have been tricked about what love should look like. Advertisements, movies, books, TV. It all projects a feeling that love – if it’s true love – should look a certain way. Love notes. Roses. Romantic candlelight dinners, or picnics under the stars. Chocolates and cards with pretty words.
On our first Valentine’s Day as a couple, Andy gave me a bunch of rocks. They were heart shaped rocks that he had collected over the years. I honestly wasn’t sure how to react when I opened the gift bag and saw them. I was expecting something a little more traditional. But I could also see that they held great meaning for him to give them to me, his girlfriend.
At that moment and in the moments since I have been learning that often love does not look like it does in movies. A husband may not act romantically in the way characters do in books. He will show love in his own, original way.
Each gift, each token of his affection, is straight from him to me.
If we as women long for the stereotype we saw in movies growing up, we may miss out on the affection our own man has to offer. Each man is different, and will express his love in a way that reflects who he is.
Valentines Day usually does not look like roses and chocolate and a candlelight dinner for us. It may be a heartfelt discussion on child training and how we could do better (last year) or the gift of a pink camo gun (this year) that will be perfect for our fall caribou hunt.
I have learned to appreciate that bunch of heart shaped rocks that were given with all the love of a good man.
aww, those are sweet pictures. =) slipping and falling while trying to be elegant sounds like me lol 😅 I was blessed reading this post!
Yup! If I try to gauge my husband’s love by the roses and chocolates, I could become very “unloved”. Gifts are not his love language but words and touches are just as meaningful, even if not so Instagram-able:)
So very true!
Good stuff, Tabitha! I loved your pictures. You are such a cute couple!