Warning. This is not your typical Valentines story.

And it’s with good reason. Because seriously, does the typical Valentines story ever really happen? Now, don’t panic. I’m not at all cynical about love. I believe true love exists, and it’s beautiful. I just don’t think it looks like the charming, witty, perfect couple in the movies or the romance novel, and it’s surely not as sappy the Hallmark cards make it out to be.

Here’s what true love looked like at our house a few nights ago:

Poorly chosen words were said.
Suffocating silence set in.
I then write 497 words saying I’m sorry.
Brad writes 83, and he brings cupcakes.

And just like that, we’re trying again to love each other well despite our flaws and failures.

Love is not by chance; it’s by choice.

It’s choosing to see the good.
It’s choosing to do more than your fair share.
It’s choosing to focus on loving rather than fixing.
It’s choosing to say I’m sorry and mean it.

And here’s what is really beautiful. Loving by choice doesn’t just work in marriages; it works in every relationship! Christ is our example. He loved us by choice.

There wasn’t any good in us to see. { Isaiah 64:6 }
We couldn’t do our fair share. { Romans 3:23 }
Even in our sin, He loved us. { Romans 5:8 }
Even when He had no sin, He paid the price. { 2 Corinthians 5:21 }

Now that’s a love story.
One worth sharing.
One worth living.

The love we’ve been given is the love we are to give.

And we don’t need Valentines Day to do it.

Let’s love a little louder every day!