Love.

Last year, we drove up for my husband's Godmother's wedding anniversary. It was their 25th wedding anniversary. Twenty. Five. I am barely older than that. As I stare in wonder at their family, I wonder how did they make it. Are they still in *love*? In a world which believes that lifelong love are only in story books, can a couple still be in love for so long? Then the room quietens as their children show us a video they make for their parents. I admit that instead of watching the video, I am watching the couple. And I see it. A flicker here and there. A glimpse of why this couple was meant to be. And how they have survived all these years in a world that said love was only meant to last during the honeymoon. You see the spark that started it all. The compatibility. The gentleness. And the love.

On our wedding day, I was deeply moved by two instances of love. One was when my husband's grandfather made a toast to us. Grandfather was the type of man who always had a twinkle in his eye. He always loved a good joke and a good laugh. When he stood up to say his toast, he said with all seriousness, looking at Grandmother, " I hope your marriage is as good as mine is."

Then it was time for my husband's brother, J. to give his best man speech. My husband was the oldest of six children and often took the role of head of the family. J. hadn't prepared his speech and simply spoke from the heart. He started slowly saying how happy he was for his brother and then the speech grew to how much his older brother had done for the family. You hear in that speech the bond between brother and brother, between brother and sister. You hear the admiration, respect and love. You see six siblings deeply devoted to each other. Always there for each other. It's the bond movies love to write about and mothers cry over.

J. is the farthest to right.

When we got engaged, amid all the congratulations, my soon-to-be father-in-law pulled us aside. He said, "Remember why you fell in love. Remember why you are getting married. Always remember this moment."

Everybody knows of the passage, "Love is patient and kind..." (1 Corinthians 13). C.S. Lewis discusses extensively of the Four Loves We would know what love is when we see it but why do we love. What draws two people to love. You could rationalize it why two people are compatible. You could reason that families grow closer because of struggles that all families go through. Yet we as Christians know we love because God is love. We are created in the image of God, all capable of love. And in His divine mercy, he plants the seeds of love within us. So when you see your newborn children, you cry in love. When you kiss your husband, you feel the touch of love. And when you hug your brother, you feel the warmth of love. It is God in every moment. The more you practise love, the more you allow God to enter your hearts.

Before me, I have two boys. They are still very young yet my oldest is showing signs of brotherly love. He pushes B. in the swing, laughing because B. is laughing. When B. wakes up cranky, he carries a toy Scooby-Doo which sings Why do Fools Fall in Love because it is B.'s current favourite toy. It is charity and empathy. It is affection and friendship. And perhaps these small acts of love would grow to a love of God.If you look hard, you can see C. pushing B. in the background.