- Feb 5, 2002
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A woman once told me, “I don’t love my husband anymore.”
I asked her, “Are you concerned for his good?”
“Yes,” she answered.
“Then you love him.”
“That’s the love you vowed when you married him. That’s the same kind of love we need to be saved. The Greek word for it is agape,” I explained. “It sounds like you don’t like him. You don’t have to like your husband. But if you work hard for his good and try to make him happy as best you can, he just might become more likable. However, that shouldn’t be your primary motive. Your first motive should be to fulfill the vow you made before God to pursue his good.”
“I never thought of it that way. I can try to pursue that.”
“And if you make a habit out of that, it won’t be so difficult. If you are good to your husband for your sake, it may not work. If you are good to your husband for God’s sake, He will reward you even if your husband does not.”
Continued below.
catholicexchange.com
I asked her, “Are you concerned for his good?”
“Yes,” she answered.
“Then you love him.”
“That’s the love you vowed when you married him. That’s the same kind of love we need to be saved. The Greek word for it is agape,” I explained. “It sounds like you don’t like him. You don’t have to like your husband. But if you work hard for his good and try to make him happy as best you can, he just might become more likable. However, that shouldn’t be your primary motive. Your first motive should be to fulfill the vow you made before God to pursue his good.”
“I never thought of it that way. I can try to pursue that.”
“And if you make a habit out of that, it won’t be so difficult. If you are good to your husband for your sake, it may not work. If you are good to your husband for God’s sake, He will reward you even if your husband does not.”
Continued below.
A Priest's Advice on Building a Great Marriage - Catholic Exchange
True love isn’t a feeling—it’s willing the good of your spouse. Discover how daily habits and agape love can transform your marriage.
catholicexchange.com
