Quiet Love

 

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about family, friendships, and how to love the people I care about in the best way possible. There are some people around me who are hurting desperately right now. Some are sick, while many others are navigating through the tough illness of someone they love. Others are actively or newly grieving, while some are just enduring a tough, unpredictable season of aging and it’s wearing them thin.

As I’ve thought about each of these people I love and how to best love them through these tough times, it’s made me reflect on the times in my life that I’ve been loved through some really, really hard situations. And the time in reflection led me to this… the times I have felt the most loved have always been the times when I was loved quietly by some very special people.

What do I mean by that? To me, being loved quietly meant the person who was there for me met me where I was, with no judgment, and did something beautiful for me that wasn’t big and wasn’t for show. You never saw a post about it on social media. You never heard about it from anyone else. And what they did likely wasn’t anything big or flashy, just a simple act of true love and friendship.

I’ve had some wonderful examples of this kind of love so many times in my life. Particularly over the last 8 years as I’ve developed some special friendships later in life.

I have a sweet friend that calls me at least once every week or so just to check in on me no matter how busy of a season she is in! She never lets much time go by without calling just to make sure I know I am loved and to cheer me on through whatever challenge I might be experiencing, or exciting thing is happening. Our friendship, founded in a shared work experiences few have had to experience has been so incredibly special to me.

This quiet love is also something my husband does incredibly well! He always shows up for the kids and me. He patiently wades through each season of grief with me that always comes in like a tidal wave with each passing birthday and anniversary of parents gone or the child who was born to Heaven. He is my best friend and biggest supporter no matter what and loves me despite all of my hundreds of imperfections. And he loves the kids and grandkids endlessly too. No matter how busy his week was he always has time to share with each of us. I waited my whole life for a special love like this and I will spend the rest of my life making sure he gets that same, wonderful, quiet love from me in return. 

Quiet love is a gift I hope you all experience in your life repeatedly. And may it be something we all strive to give to those in our lives, especially during those seasons where they might not have much to give back in return. It doesn’t have to be big or flashy, in fact quiet love is meant to be anything but.

Quiet love is the greatest gift we all can give. And the best part is, it doesn’t cost a thing.