There’s a Turkish saying that whispers a truth as old as time:
“If you truly love someone, you love them twice. The first time, it’s all about attraction — their smile, their voice, their presence. But slowly, the curtain lifts. You see their scars, insecurities, mood swings, trauma, moral differences. It’s no longer perfect. It’s real. And if you can still love them — without filters, without expectations — that’s not infatuation. That’s the love of understanding. The kind that stays. The kind that grows.”
How deeply this echoes the rhythm of divine love — the kind of love that remains when the shimmer of perfection fades and the rawness of truth is revealed. Real love isn’t blind; it sees and still chooses. It witnesses the flaws, the struggles, the fragile humanity beneath the surface, and it stays.
This is the love Christ has for us — not born of illusion, but of revelation. He sees the broken parts we hide, the fears we mask, and the inconsistencies we try to outgrow, yet His love never wavers. It does not shrink back from our mess; it steps closer, gently mending what shame would have discarded.
📖 “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” — 1 Corinthians 13:7 (NKJV)
To love another in this way is to mirror the heart of Jesus — a love not measured by romance or reward, but by understanding and grace. It is a sacred echo of the covenant love that says,
“I see you — not the idealised version, but the real you — and I still choose to stay.”
We learn, in time, that love is not sustained by chemistry but by commitment; not by fleeting passion but by prayerful patience. It is choosing to see the image of God in another person, even when their humanity is showing. It is forgiving seventy times seven, believing in redemption, and tending to wounds instead of walking away from them.
In this kind of love, we become more like Christ — refined through compassion, stretched by humility, and strengthened by endurance. For when we love past comfort, we love with eternity’s heart.
💡 Reflection:
Who has shown you this kind of love — the love that stayed when things became real? 🤔
In what relationships might God be inviting you to shift from attraction to understanding? 🤔
🎺 Affirmation:
I am learning to love as Christ loves — with eyes that see truth, hands that hold gently, and a heart that endures through imperfection.
🙌 Prayer:
Lord Jesus, teach me to love beyond the surface. Help me to see others through Your eyes — with grace, patience, and understanding. When it feels easier to withdraw, give me the courage to stay present, to listen, and to forgive. May my love reflect Yours: steadfast, compassionate, and pure.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Dienstag, 28. Oktober 2025
I’d love to hear your thoughts if this story resonated with you! Please take a moment to rate it or share your constructive feedback in the comments below — it means so much. Don't hesitate to share it with someone whom you feel might benefit from it.