Love Story
December 8, 2011 | By: Cristiane Cardoso | Posted in: Dating, Family, Marriage, Spiritual Growth, Strength
I must admit I melt when I read a love story. It touches a part of me that is really sensitive and it’s common to get goose bumps. Sometimes I well up, and I’m glad no one is around to watch me during this time.
Not everyone goes through a love story in her lifetime. It’s a rare thing. Nowadays, it’s probably considered something you only see in the movies. People settle for any kind of relationship as long as they’re not alone, and love is distant — a fantasy word they may sometimes use — with no real meaning, of course.
There are those who have gone through their own love stories but for one reason or another, they’ve lost it. Today, they live a post-love story life full of memories that can sometimes cut them like a knife.
There are those who are living a love story at this very moment. It’s a wonderful feeling, the skies are always blue and the sun is always out. You feel like the luckiest person in the whole world, which is fair after all — ‘people wait a lifetime for a moment like this’ — someone once sang.
The only difference is, romantic books and movies somehow always have fairytale endings. You never know what happens afterwards but you fantasize they lived happily ever after, which is what I do, but in reality, can one fantasize in the same way for their lives? Can we actually be certain that we’ll live happily ever after?
There is always that small doubt, not to mention the constant insecurities we let ourselves have, you know, the little jealous tantrums… and the happily ever after belief is again shattered.
The only way to really experience love in one’s life is to have it first within. When a person waits to find love exteriorly, she’ll always have that doubt. After all, everyone makes mistakes; we’re all humans, things change, etc.
When I met God personally, I was 16 years old, and I have never been alone since. Problems did come and still do, but they’re never too big to spoil things for me. Sadness comes but doesn’t find room to stay.
Worries come but don’t sink in. Disappointments come but quickly pass me by. There’s a certainty within that everything will be fine, no matter what happens. It’s an assurance that one can’t experience from the outside – it’s only available from within. You may think I’m a lucky person, but you’re wrong, I simply began living my own love story at 16.
Cristiane Cardoso
Author of the books "Better than a new pair of shoes", "V woman" and "Casamento Blindado" (Bulletproof Marriage). Founder of "Godllywood" and "Rahab Project". Presenter of "The Love School" at Rede Record.
I have never thought about it that way before, but it is true. I started my love story when I was 21 and I always remember that year of my life to be the best and I believe it’s because I found someone who truly loved me and it was fun, exciting and surprising.
But honestly something changed along the way I started to take my relationship with God for granted I was taking care of it properly and I realise that now, well about a month ago. Like all relationships I believe you need to communicate, you need to sacrifice and most importantly you must make time not matter what. Then my love story will truly begin.
Thank you Mrs Cristine. x
I enjoyed reading this post very much. So true, it's such an eye opener.
God bless
There isn't a more perfect, more fulfilling, more exciting love story than the one between man and God. I can't even begin to put it into words. It's perfect, certainly not because of us, because we as human beings are full of mistakes, but because He is perfect and nothing we do will ever make Him to stop being flawless. When I met God, I was humbled by how unconditional His love for me is. I simply love Him so much. I too am living my own love story. I simply love Him so much.
Cristiane,
A love story. We all want one.
However, many people seem to find someone they can put up with, (as you imply) stick with him or her then marry because it seems like the thing to do (and they don’t want to stay single).
The first thing is that it's really a case of waiting for love.
Once you meet someone, the important thing is to have the same foundational values: have the same vision in life.
The initial rush and blush stage of a romantic relationship never lasts, and, on returning back to earth you find out all the bad points about each other. True love sees the other person’s bad points and still loves him or her. He or she is selfless – he or she wants to meet the other person’s needs; decides on a long-term commitment; takes time to build the relationship; gives time for the partner to be alone – doesn’t suffocate him or her (metaphorically speaking).
Love is a choice. Although feelings will accompany love, and although sex will be a part of healthy marriage, a lasting relationship cannot be based on these things alone. The couple must be absolutely committed to each other.
There are a few things love isn’t.
Love isn’t a feeling. Although real love is often accompanied by strong feelings, love does not equate with the sense of rush and blush we feel when we think we’re in love. It’s not the kind of love that films, books, television and songs portray.
I agree with Debora – she is right in being mindful of the movies and programmes she watches. Unfortunately too many people have been taught what (as she says) the "meaning" of love is by the media industry and I'm sure that part of our melting to love stories was taught by the media itself too as Debora mentions. As for teaching us how to create some hot scenes in our heads about what "being loved by a boyfriend" is about that is completely inappropriate.
Loved ones, be they friends, family, or your other half, will let you down at some point or other. God wants us to find our need for love and acceptance in Him first. Real love begins with God – the one who created all relationships in the first place (including the sexual relationship).
The Bible says God is love. We were made for God’s love. Only after experiencing and knowing the unconditional love of God can we begin to love others with the same quality as He loves us.
I liked Debora's comment.
All the best to you Cris.
We will never be disappointed with Jesus. It is wonderful how He not only loves us, makes us knew again, but He also gives us everything we need to overcome the world.
I love this post.
And I can certainly agree with you, There is no way we can love or have Love till we have the true love within.
Love this post!
Love is the most precious thing that we can have when we really find God, he give us the truth love, and never leaves us by ourselves, I think about it everyday and I thanks God because before I try so many times but I couldn't find it, until I really got the most beautiful moment of my live, my encounter with God, which I will never forget because in my hard moments his always there for me and never leaves me, there is no words to describe how much I thanks God for giving the opportunity that he have gave me to do his work and to help others, and the most important, to admit by my own words that he loves us and give that love to us so we can share with the people with love.
Such a lovely post, and so true! When we meet God, that's when the real love story begins
Hola Mrs. Cristiane,
There are people that are unhappy because they are always looking for happiness and love in others without realizing that their own happiness comes from within and True love comes from God.
Sincerely,
Kenia Rivas
Mrs. Cris! I love the Post!
Couldn't agree more!
we can only find true love through God!
Mrs. Cristiane I couldn't agree more!
"Sadness comes but doesn’t find room to stay. Worries come but don’t sink in. Disappointments come but quickly pass me by."
This is the kind of mentality that I make a point to have. We are humans and are prone to make mistakes! We have disappointed others in the past and some have disappointed us. But, I think that one of the healthiest things to do is just forget and forgive… Its a commonly used phrase but not many know what it actually means.
It doesn't matter who or where we are, we will always have people who will despise us and others who will love us. If this is the case then we should really strive to make the most of the situation and not "judge or condemn" them. One question I always ask myself: Who am I to judge someone?
It is definitely true, often we see people going through hell to keep a relationship with someone just to avoid being alone.
Once you have God in your life you are always possessed by this huge love that comes from inside, you will never be alone. And you have more selfcontrol when it is time for your marriage.
It becomes the fist love and the one you never forget, but it's up to us to maintain that love story alive.
I have grown to be watchful of the movies and programs I watch. Most people don't think about it, some of my family members, for example, don't see much harm in it, but since I was little, I was taught what the "meaning" of love was by the TV or the movies.
Sometimes I even wonder if part of our melting to love stories was taught by media itself. It teaches us even how to kiss, and after that, how to create some hot scenes in our heads about what "being loved by a boyfriend" is about…man, gotta hate Hollywood…
Anyway, after my (many) failed attempts to have a happy "love story" in the world, which deep inside I never allowed to develop (though I would allow them to start and break my heart while at it) with "world" guys because deep inside I could never see myself with someone who didn't fear God for "happily ever after" (so why start them in the first place, right?! Yeah, I know, go figure…), I am now in a love story with God!
Funny, last night I was reading 1Jn 4&5 and it talks about that! It's so wonderful
My love story began when I was 15. It's true, since that day the sun is always shining an the sky is always blue and it doesent matter how many struggles I go through I always feel loved like im living a fairy tale,it was when i had my true encounter with God.
This is so true Cristiane, My Birthday was the 4th December, and that was the day that I felt all of my old life die and then God filled me with the Holy Spirit and I never really understood before what people meant. I feel completey detached from all the antagonism, all the whole of my life, like everything was new, I got bags and bags of legal documents, of court cases and threw them in the bin because that was my old life, misery in 15 carrier bags, things to do with my son’s death, horrible things, I feel completely different and I can’t help but be emotional about that day because I know God rescued me, he put a piece of heaven in my heart and I know I may make mistakes in life but I know they wont be like the huge, horrific wappers before, If you have not got the Holy Spirit, it would not be wise to marry someone Holy like that because you would pull them down maybe. I know God rescued me, My room echoes, and I have done nothing really since but study the Holy Bible more. Now when people talk about Baptism in the Holy Spirit, I understand, I can see now, all the things that are not necessary and I am learning more each day about the things that are. I have this strength now, as you say an assurance, before I had the spirit of offence. I can say what I know to be true, but the lord Himself can reveal if someone has the Holy Spirit can’t He?
God bless Treaclex
This is true mrs. Cristiane, sometimes we set high expectations on a relationship that has nothing to give, and that ends up shattering us from the inside out. We try to find a love story with someone else first instead of having a love story with God, Love itself.