Am I in Love?

When you find yourself daydreaming about someone. When you just cannot get someone off your mind all day, you may conclude that love has taken over you. Let me shock you, the butterflies in your belly do not validate love. They are responding to hormones that you triggered. I think I should call those feelings infatuation, which is temporary.

The question most young people ask is, how do I know I am in love and how do I know I am loved?

There are different kinds of love but I will focus on two aspects of love that are needed for marriage. One is the eros, romantic love. The second is agape love.
Attraction is very important because you need attraction to fuel your passion in the marriage relationship. The moment you get bored and tired, your commitment will dwindle. Romantic love keeps the bed shaking and the home happy. It was God who put sexual desires in man so that it can find expression in marriage to spice it up. Marriage is honourable and worth exploring.
The second kind of love is the love Paul was explaining in the bible in I Corinthians 13

Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end..
I Corinthians 13: 4-7 (MSG)

 Love is patient, kind, enduring, humble and so much more. If you do not have certain qualities, like the one mentioned above you cannot be said to have love.

Love is an action word and in marriage, couples need to love and respect each other. Love and respect must go hand in hand to maintain the flames of joy in the home.

For singles preparing to enter into marriage, how do you know that you are in love? Perhaps you should ask yourself some of the questions above. Are you willing to go the extra mile for that person? Can you sacrifice all that you have for your partner? Are you able to stand with your partner in her/his weakness? Are you willing to help her/him succeed in their part or do you only care about yourself? Are you contented with your partner or do you feel there are other options you can consider? Does your partner make you smile when you are alone? Are you scared of the future when you think about your partner?
It is not compulsory that you or your partner tick all the boxes because there is room for growth as you embark on the marital journey. However, the onus is on you to decide whether where you and your partner are is sufficient to kick-start the journey.

Romance is sweet but it must stand on the foundation of love and respect to have a lasting impact. Build your marriage on a solid foundation and not a sandy one which can be swept away without stress.

Don’t suppress your feelings but ask God to teach you to love the right person and to love the right way.
Cheers!